Will Michael Same Be Accepted?

     Get ready football fans, the name Michael Sam will be instilled in your head for a long time. No more talk about Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, etc. Actually, you may not even here about Richard Sherman (as unbelievable as that may sound). In football talk, Michael Sam, who is projected to become the first openly gay player in NFL history, is going to steal headlines.

     The way I see this situation is that it was definitely a good idea to declare his sexuality prior to the draft. Coaches typically know what kind of culture they have in the locker room (except Joe Philbin) and that will help them evaluate Sam. This is the second straight year there is a unique headline stealing the show. Last year, the talk was all about Manti Te'o. Now, the talk is Michael Sam.

     The question becomes, if a team needs a pass rusher, will they avoid Sam because of his sexuality? I think it will be different depending on the team. A team like the Patriots might not care about sexuality because they have a solid structure in tact. A team with a rookie head coach may think twice. The undeniable thing about Sam is that he is talented. That means if he falls too far down draft boards, it would be a bad look on the National Football League.

     Michael Sam himself will have to have very thick skin. In the season following the Incognito-Martin debacle, his reactions to his teammates will be asked about and magnified. He has to know he is a rookie and he will get picked on, the same way Te'o probably got picked on by his teammates in San Diego. The key is to prove your worth on the field and earn respect that way.

     With that being said, I would not be surprised if there was some sort of episode similar to that down in Miami this past season. But until we know where Sam will be playing next year, be ready to hear endless talk about him. More than Sherman. More than Manziel. He is officially under the microscope.