Michael Sam made NFL history on Saturday night when he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams as the 249th pick becoming the first openly active gay player in professional football.
The SEC Defensive Player of the Year from Missouri believed he should have been taken earlier, and not in the seventh round and third day of the NFL Draft.
He told the Associated Press: "From last season alone, I should've been in the first three rounds. SEC Defensive Player of the Year, All-American." He continued: ''You know what, who knows? Who knows? Only the people who sit in the war room know,'' he said. ''They saw Michael Sam, day after day they scratched it off the board. That was their loss. But St. Louis kept me on that board. And you know what I feel like I'm a (Jadeveon) Clowney, a first draft pick. I'm proud of where I am now.''
Still, fans at the Radio City Music Hall chanted "Yes! Yes! Yes!" and cheered on the former Missouri standout after NFL vice president of game operations Mike Kensil announced Sam's name in the final minutes of the draft.
Sam was in San Diego watching the proceedings with his family and friends with cameras from ESPN and the NFL network on hand to show his reaction. He was shown hugging his boyfriend and rubbing his left bicep after the announcement was made. He then gave his boyfriend a kiss.
He then took to Twitter to share his joy, tweeting: ''Thank you to the St. Louis Rams and the whole city of St. Louis. I'm using every once of this to achieve greatness!!'
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