Michael Sam Says He Is Gay; May Become First Publicly Gay Player in N.F.L.

The story says everyone in the NFL is against this?

 

More precisely, the SI stuff seems to have an editorial bent in that direction.

 

They did not make disparaging remarks about his decision to come out.

 

That may have been what he meant. But what they were doing was observing the locker room culture, and evaluating whether the culture was ready for an openly gay player. That's quite different from "disparaging" his decision.

 

If they weren't disparaging why did they need anonymity?

 

Terrell Thomas - "The NFL might not be ready for a gay player"
Makes some fair points. Give him credit for putting his name
on it.

http://nypost.com/2014/02/12/giants-thomas-nfl-might-not-be-set-to-accept-sam/

 

Why was the "Aren't we beyond this?" anonymous? You'd think that sentiment would easily be one he could get somebody to stand behind with his name.

 

I don't know you'd have to ask them. I can only go by the content of the statements. They didn't disparage his decision.

 

Anybody who says anything that can be twisted into something other than, "Welcome to the NFL, Michael Sam, you are an inspiration, I hope you're drafted ahead of Bridgewater and Manziel and I also hope my kids grow up to be gay." is at risk to be ripped for giving their honest opinion.

Vilma said he's not comfortable showering with a gay player... OK, I think he's ignorant, but at least he gave an honest answer and said so on the record. Now he's a villain.

Even the GM saying, "Aren't we beyond this?" is at risk, because what if his team passes on Sam seven times in the draft. Is he now a liar?

 

My point is the smartest people are the ones saying nothing.

 

I think that's probably true everywhere; message boards included.

 

So what's your point? Accountability for one's statements is the purpose of disfavoring anonymity. Online comment threads, hello? People are smart enough to evaluate "anybody who says anything" and come to their own conclusions about that person.