Ramathon
Guest
Mac,I don't doubt any of your analysis there of what you saw on film,in fact I honor your work, I haven't forgotten you insistence on Alshon Jeffrey and how so many of us whiffed on him (including our Rams)but I still have a very tough time accepting the idea that Sam is near third round talent . His combine numbers weren't that lofty first of all.and second but even more important to me ,the implication as to why he fell.
You make a primafacia case for the entire league to be homophobic as well as many tallent evaluators and I have trouble leveling those kind of charges against anyone until I know it to be the case,charges of racist ,homophobe,sexist are so serious in my mind and get thrown out just to gain sway in argument in such a cavalier way ,once that bell gets rung you can't unring it and IMO are more hurtful to the target than any epithet because of course thinking people know the epithet really reflects upon the issuer and doesn't REALLY diminish the target . Once labeled that way where do you go to get your reputation back ? We must consider the humanity of all parties here before we give in to our own prejudices.,NOT BTW saying you are giving in .
I think Mike Sam was drafted about where his abilities dictated , his quickness is good but the bulk of you analysis was against far inferior competition to what he will face in the NFL and although he shined against that competition he's just a little small and not the freak athlete a guy that size has to be to be productive at this level the way a third round talent can and often has been.
It is my experience that in matters of sexual orientation attitudes are polarized towards over reaction in both directions ,people tend to have near militant attitudes in reaction to the polar opposite and rare is the unbiased opinion of one another,I won't let myself believe this whole league was afraid to draft that kid for the talent he possesses ,I can't write that many people off ,I have to examine anyone on a case by case basis before I make those kinds of judgement ,I just do.
Maybe I'm naive , but I have to believe in the good in everyone first until they prove me wrong.
I don't think it's hard to believe that Sam's 'coming out' impacted his draft position. And it doesn't require everyone in the league to be homophobic for it to occur. And certainly not a conspiracy to push him down in the draft. All it takes is at least one person with 'juice' on each team to have a Dungy-esque "I don't want the distraction" mentality for it to occur.
Remember, this is the league that hem-hawed f-o-r-e-v-e-r about blacks as starting QB's before it finally happened.
It's also the league that had to institute the Rooney Rule to insure minority coaches were at least given an opportunity to be in the discussion for head coaching vacancies.
In neither of those cases would I say the entire league and everyone in it was rascist. But there certainly was enough of a herd mentality, or an 'old boys club' mentality, to impede qualified candidates for a long time.
So, I don't find it the least bit difficult to believe Sam's draft status was impacted by his announcement. I don't know that it occurred, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least.