Sam was projected to be a third/fourth round pick prior to the combine. To say he came out to ensure he was drafted is at best distorting the timeline of events and at worst straight up idiotic.

Feb. 9, 2014, will one day be remembered as it should -- as the day in which a young man described himself with pride and honesty.

But make no mistake, it is also the day that Missouri defensive end Michael Sam's stock in the NFL Draft began to drop because he announced he was gay. He was already sliding due to concerns over the dreaded 'tweener label -- with some scouts viewing him as too short for defensive end and a project to convert to stand-up linebacker following an inconsistent week at the Senior Bowl.

NFLDraftScout.com has Sam ranked as the No. 110 overall prospect. An initial drop to 160 from 90 on Monday morning was part of a comprehensive adjustment in the rankings leading up to next week's scouting combine that generated movement among hundreds of prospects. In all, 65 of the top 350 prospects were affected by the rankings update, and Sam was never intended to drop past No. 110. The bottom line is Sam's announcement will affect his position on the draft boards of some teams, but NFLDraftScout.com currently projects him as a third- to fourth-round prospect overall, with all factors considered.

I have some mixed feelings about his decision to do the show. On one hand as a 7th round pick, he may make more money from this show than he makes from Football. On the other hand, I don't think it's going to help him to focus on Football to the degree I would think he should. As the top Defensive player in the Top conference in the NCAA, I don't dismiss his chances to make the Rams squad. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if he turns out to be a decent player. But if being an NFL linebacker is his top priority, he should make decisions that reflect that.

Look at some of the mock drafts from this board. IIRC some selected him in the 2nd and 3rd round.

This is exactly what people were talking about when they said that Sam could be a distraction. A TV production crew following him around at Rams camp would most certainly be considered a distraction. The Rams cant be happy about this.
If Sams was serious about being an NFL player, he would be working to improve on the God awful numbers that he put up at the NFL combine.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Kinda like HBO Hard Knocks filming your entire training camp, or the thousands of dopes who show up to cheer a practice? Those aren't distractions?

Why are fans who go to a practice "dopes"?

Why are fans who go to a practice "dopes"?

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

Michael Sam is, to this point, a professional athlete to the same extent you and I are Chinese.

A lot of guys are projected early in the draft before the combine and workouts. Many fall down the draft board.

Some seem to think that it is just automatic that he fell because he is gay. Maybe he just isn't a good pro prospect?

The guys running these NFL teams are dealing with the reality of their jobs with every draft. If someone really thought he was good at football and could help them then they would be stupid to drop them because of their sexual preference.

Kinda like HBO Hard Knocks filming your entire training camp, or the thousands of dopes who show up to cheer a practice? Those aren't distractions?

Let's not pretend that some GM's wouldn't pass on him because he is gay and lets not act as if some genuinely passed on him because they believed he would be a distraction.

Let's also not pretend that the concerns about him being a distraction weren't genuine.

I really do hope he does well and helps break down some barriers but I believe this will have the opposite effect. I hope Im wrong.

What if he was awesome? Would anyone pass on him for being gay if he was universally thought of as an All Pro in waiting?


Im not sure any GM is secure enough to pass

What if he was awesome? Would anyone pass on him for being gay if he was universally thought of as an All Pro in waiting?

If you hate Laurence, then don't listen - don't comment. When he co-hosts the B&B show, take that day off ... listen to an old podcast of a Bernstein solo show and jerk off all day.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?