NFL COMBINE
INDIANAPOLIS — If the Cardinals drafted Missouri linebacker Michael Sam, coach Bruce Arians would have no worries about how the NFL’s first openly gay player would be treated by teammates and coaches.
He and a handful of NFL general managers said they have coached, worked or played with gay players before, just not one who has come out publicly. They were accepted by players and coaches without problem.
“He’s not the first,” said Tampa Bay General Manager Jason Licht, “not the first NFL, not the first college. In my experience, it’s been kind of a moot issue. I’ve been lucky to be in organizations with strong locker rooms, strong staffs, a strong coach, where it hasn’t been an issue.”
That was echoed by several other coaches, including Arians.
But what concerns the Cardinals coach is how opposing fans might treat Sam.
“None of that matters in the locker room,” Arians said. “Every locker room I’ve been in, it’s been all about winning. If you had a hand in us winning, and you were different, guys accepted it.
“Fans? That’s a very different story. I’ve walked into stadiums where gentlemen are teaching their sons how to moon the bus and moms are teaching their daughters what their middle fingers are for, and it’s not a ring. That scares me more, what’s going to be said from the stands. The locker room won’t be a problem.”
Sam’s teammates and coaches at Missouri knew he was gay, and it was no big deal to them. Fearing that others might “out” him, Sam took control of his story, telling the New York Times and ESPN last week that he was gay.
So reporters were spread wide and deep around the podium when Sam spoke on Saturday at the scouting combine.
In his allotted 15 minutes, Sam displayed a sense of humor, humility and perspective that would serve any pro pros-