Yet another critical has come forward publicly criticizing the hoopla over St. Louis Rams' selection of Michael Sam in the seventh round of the NFL Draft last weekend.
SEC rival coaches think Missouri's support for Michael Sam could hurt the school
Except that this particular critic is irate that Sam, the Missouri Tigers defensive end and first openly gay football player entering the NFL, was picked as late as he was.
Uproxx.com is reporting that Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen was beside himself as to how a co-Defensive Player of the Year in college football's toughest conference could fall to the seventh round of the draft with the No. 249 overall pick.
"Now, you'll never convince me there were 248 better college players and better NFL prospects in that draft - 248 better than the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year - there's just no way," Hansen said. " ... I do not understand why so many people are so afraid of a gay man in an NFL locker room. I think the other players are going to be OK."
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"I've worked with gay men in my station and in my department for 40 years, now, and not one of those guys has ever hit on me, and I'm starting to get a little ticked off about it. Not now, but hey, in my day, I was a good-looking guy. And yet, nobody tried."
"NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, 'We truly believe in diversity and this is an opportunity to demonstrate it. Two-hundred forty-eight players taken, then Michael Sam. I think they just showed us.
"But Michael Sam has a chance now, that's all he wants, that's all he deserves. To deny him that would say more about the NFL and more about us than it would Michael Sam."
But according to ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com, Hansen's stance, while deserving of praise for his support, is misguided.
"But Sam is wrong if he thinks being SEC Defensive Player of the Year or an All-American should make him a high draft pick. Those are media awards, and NFL teams couldn't care less what sportswriters think. ... I believe Sam was a seventh-round pick because he's a seventh-round talent."
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