Michael Sam

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How has he less of a chance? He was given a chance by two teams this year and dint make it. Now he's in the same boat as all the rest of the players cut. He has the same chance that every other player has, futures players etc. We're talking about a guy that's too small for a 4-3 defensive end and not quick enough/agile etc for a 3-4. He's a defensive linemen that put up 17 reps at the combine. Obviously he can get stronger, but the onus is on him. Go back and read the scouting reports on the guy. His deficiencies are well documented. for crying out loud he was projected to go in the 6th-7th round.

 

The AB argument is tired. He came from a smaller school so he didn't play against elite competition, doesn't have elite speed, is small, and wasn't a particularly good route runner. Was as in past tense. With all of that out of the way where the $!#@ do you expect an NFL franchise to take a project?

 

his numbers were not that good as far as strength and quickness numbers. a lot od college DE's have a hard time making the switch to OLB. sam isn't a special player that just got snubbed because he's gay. he also shouldn't get special treatment because he is either. gohlston didn't work out either. some guys that look the part just don't make it. we had a guy in here last year that made some noise in preseason with some experience and he didn't make it either.

 

You are conveniently forgetting that he's not really a good fit at OLB for a 3-4 team. So that colors how teams view his utility.

 

For 1 thing, I don't believe any team really did give him a real "shot." I think the only reason the Rams signed him in the first place was that it looked good on them. The Cowboys only signed him to their practice squad- probably for the same reason. I don't think there's any "circus" associated with Michael Sam. He's not T.O. or Dez Bryant, you're not gonna see him runnin' his mouth, being a camera whore on the field. He's not Jameis Winston or Manziel- he's not gonna act like a angry, horny frat boy off the field. He's gay! That's it. Maybe that was the Rams and Cowboys issue with him. Maybe he didn't bring enough of a "circus" for them. So I don't think you can really look at those 2 team releasing him as him not being good enough.
He actually came out to his teammates & coaches at Mizzou before the start of his senior year. He wanted to do the same thing with whatever NFL team drafted him. But right after his senior season, reporters wanted him to tell them "his story." So he couldn't wait to come out.
I'm not saying to sign him to a contract tomorrow- I'm just saying that the Steelers should ask him to work out for them. If it works out, we get a good solid player cheap. If it doesn't work, then he goes back to Texas.

 

Michael Sam ran a 4.91 40 and had 17 bp reps.

Jarvis Jones ran a 4.92 40 and had 20 bp reps.

Both players had a poor combine.

Both players dominated in the SEC.

Jones was drafted 17th overall and has 3 sacks over 2 NFL seasons.

Sam had 3 sacks in a few preseason games.

Bottom line is Sam has not been given an opportunity consistent with his past accomplishments.

Sam is his own worst enemy to an extent: he was going to have a reality TV show based on him etc. If I was a coach or an owner I would not let that anywhere near the locker room.

 

I didn't forget anything. I'm talking about a situational pass rusher, not a starter, and I mentioned the fact he couldn't be counted on in coverage. I'm saying, it's common for us to have one OLB always rush in passing situations (Woodley). If Sam could become a legit pass rusher, there'd be a role for him here. Lord knows we have the space. But I wasn't just talking about us, I was talking about the whole league.

 

There are 3 issues when it comes to signing Michael Sam.

1. There is his ability as a player. Is he good enough to play in the league? At the moment, 2 teams have given him a shot, neither kept him. I don't know if that was ability is something else, but I think we must remember he was a lower string player, playing lower string players in preseason. i don't know that he can't play, but I don't know that he can either.

2. There is his orientation. This is one of those things which really shouldn't be a problem and I don't think it would be if he was a superstar, but there are factors here which sit outside him personally which him impacts. Will the guys shower in front of him? Will they feel comfortable in front on him in the locker room? I honestly think if it was Ray Lewis who came out, no one would care because he was a stud, but in this case I think he tried to use his orientation to create buzz and get a roster spot.

3. There is the circus. What do I mean by that? The media creates and will create a circus. Many teams, including the Steelers, are willing to live with some circus if he pros outweigh the cons, but right now....nobody is convinced that is true.

Sam has this offseason and next to probably prove himself....but he must do that on his ability, and nothing else.

 

Just out of curiosity, what is the "Q"? I mean I like to think I'm pretty up to date on things but that one must have slipped by. LOL.

 

Questioning. As in those questioning their sexuality.

 

To me he just doesn't have a fit. He is not strong enough to set the edge .He is not fast enough to get around the edge . I think he will get another camp invite this year and maybe 1 or 2 more in the future.

He is a good football player and some team is going to want to see if he has picked up his power . That is the only way he will play in the NFL is to get a lot stronger . Can he ? Will He ? Who knows I wish him luck .

We have a guy with that Tweener label by the name of James Harrison. So if Sams wants to make it he will need to power up just like James has.

 

Exactly! By being the 1st openly gay player in the NFL, he was already destined to become a media circus. His reality show was a way of becoming even more of a circus. Had he stayed low key after coming out, there'd have been less concern among the teams. No team wants the distraction for a project player. Nor should a team sign him just to show hoe "enlightened" they are.

 

I guess Thigpen answered that for us. I wasn't really sure either but I always see it now included with that group.

They need to add "C" to that group "Confused". JMHO.

 

I'm pretty sure he is not the only gay player out there and I believe there are other gay players playing in the NFL, so it's not a bias against gay players, so to me it comes down to he's not a good enough football player not just a good enough gay player.

we also have a few other players that will want a shot at the position and the steelers have signed them. evidently they think they can be good enough to give them a shot. you can't just keep flooding your system with more and more players to try and sort through. if that's the case, nobody gets a real good look because there are just too many. you are only allowed so many. vic so'oto had 2 sacks and a couple of game changing plays in preseason and also had NFL experience, and he got cut.

sam had issues as a player that didn't really equate to being a good NFL'er. maybe he should try Canada as so many other decent college players have to, if he wants to continue his football career. he got cut, why read more into it than is necessary?

 

confused?

more like
CURIOUS
you know, like how you were in college.
just that one time with your frat brother wink wink

 

Well I think of it this way. I have no use or desire to sword fight with another guy. Guess if I had to have a homosexual tag I would be a lesbian but, I love women. If someone feels that is the way they want to go, go! I still do not agree. Ben, AB, Heath, Troy do not run around saying I'm straight. Sams came into the league with Oprah's camera team following him till Jeff Fisher told them to hit the bricks. If he had said nothing I believe he still wouldn't have made the Rams, Cowboys and still wouldn't get a look by the Steelers, He ain't good enough. Case closed. Then again, it is some fault of Oprah who brought the side show look to his drafting.

 

I don't think that he's a good enough athlete to play LB, and he's not a good enough pass rusher to bring in as just a passing down specialist.

That being said, it wouldn't hurt to give him a shot in camp. The biggest problem would be the traveling circus that follows him around.

 

Will Sam get less of a chance because he came out? Probably. Teams don't like distractions, and his gay factor creates them. Same with Tebow. Now had either of them been better players, could their distractions be worth it? Sure. But as is, they aren't very good so it is not worth it. Whether fair or not, that is reality.

 

You said you don't think he is good enough. OK Then why bring him and the media in to take time away from getting ready for the year. The Steelers are not in the business of "GIVE LOVE A CHANCE" He can go have a coke and a smile somewhere else

 

This is the Tebow syndrome all over again. THe guy had 3 chances in 3 different systems and was let go. Despite this some tebowites still claim he wasn't given a fair chance. BS, 3 strikes and your out. Now we've got Sam and despite being given two chances you claim that they weren't legitimate. There's nothing to prove that, just your belief. He could probably be given 3,4,5 more chances and people will still claim they weren't legit. I said before if Sam hadn't come out on national tv he would just be another college football player that wasn't good enough for the NFL.

 

Because if we relied on my scouting eye, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell would be playing for someone else. And this wouldn't have anything to do with giving love a chance. We desperately need pass rushers. I doubt he'd make the team, but there's simply no downside to giving him a shot. If the worst distraction you have all season is having to answer questions about Michael Sam being gay, you should count your blessings.

 

Tebow also put our butts out of the playoffs that year. I thought he could play