NFL- Why do people say that the NFL isn't ready for a gay player?

[IM Sam132]

I know the Michael Sam questions are annoying but my question isn't about what he would do in the shower and what if you drop the soap when he's near by

Here's my question, People say the NFL isn't ready for a gay NFL player yet. Well when will be the time? NFL has to start somewhere right? There's gay people in the NFL right now. There just not out.

[Blocking Back]

Most people don't care what someone does in private. My problem with Michael Sam is that it seems like he has to base his whole identity on sex. I'd dislike a straight person who bases his identity on sex too. Also his timing is suspect.

[Cereal Swag]

People our worried about the toughness, and heterogeneous culture of football, and how it could impact gay players, but Michael Sam has showed he can overcome that by becoming an All-American. Honestly I don't think the NFL will ever fully accept an openly gay player.

[Panthers Fan]

Here's how I think about it...

Would anyone be comfortable in a locker room full of all women and then one straight guy, all under 30?

With young people like this I really don't see how a gay player on a team with all other guys would be fine. Whatever team he ends up on, it will definitely effect it a lot. Not to mention the media attention it'll bring. I think he should've stayed in the closet. Because who really cares what sexuality someone is? If no one knew, it wouldn't be a problem.

[Brent G]

I think its the distraction that will be the issue. There will be plenty of people covering this story that don't know anything about football and don't realize that a middle round situational pass rusher (which he will be; doesn't matter that he was co-DPOY in best conf in college) is a nobody to the locker room. Most veterans don't care about rookies, and some teams still employ middle of the road hazing on rookies, so these reporters that don't know why he is getting this treatment are probably going to think it's just because he is g*y and they will vilify the team and coaching staff.
And oh my G-d what happens if he under performs and they want to cut him? Look how the media is still on teams for not wanting to sign Jason Collins and the basketball season is half way over.

The media is only out to get their headline and are not always interested in the real truth, so of course team's are not going to want to bring that exposure to their locker room. Terrelle Thomas' comments were 100% neutral and had no judgment yet he still got lumped in with Vilma and Sam's dad as guys that have "spoken out" against Sam. If they have many players graded out the same (especially at the same position) it wouldn't surprise me if teams pass on him to avoid that media onslaught.

If anything, it is the media that is keeping these players in the closet in my opinion and it will be up to them to keep themselves in check if they want to give this kid a real opportunity to succeed. You can't expect a coach to invite that type of exposure and put his job and livelihood on the line for a "social agenda" unless the value was too good. Why was this not an issue at Missouri even though the whole team knew, but it is an issue now...the media.

Sam would be doing himself and the cause a huge favor in my opinion to speak out against the media and tell them that he expects them to cover him the same they would any other regular player.

I wish him luck though.

[857]

Some people are holding onto their old prejudices, others are afraid of anything so different from their personal perceptions of what "Normal" is, than there is just outright bigotry.
For whatever reason someone else judges another it is not in our power to control them. Time will do most of that for us; so for now all we can do is try to withhold judging others just like we would like others to refrain from judging us.

[?]

Those people are speaking with no basis because I'm pretty sure none of them have experienced a situation like this. When the season is over, we will see if the NFL was ready. We have no way of knowing. Even current NFL players have no way of knowing.

[Razorback_Ridgeway]

Sam is more professional than to do anything in the locker room and field and stuff.

[Agent S]

nfl is mostly Christian.

not every one is a asthiests.