Sign the Beasts LVIII -- Anyone Have a Binky in the Veteran Combine?

[Ring 6]

SAM

1) Over the years, there have been many players who have been gay. There has been only one who chose to celebrate his sexuality. Sam CHOSE to come out and make his private life public.

As the father of a gay daughter, I find your choice of words ignorant, archaic and insulting.
I'll leave it at that.

 

[Ring 6]

Someone gave Sam the advice to come out before the draft, and to publicly celebrate his sexuality by spending being in a gay bar when he was drafted and kissing his partner on national television when he received the call.

This was poor advice if this was supposed to be the way to show that he didn't want to be a distraction. The story would certainly have played out in the media, had he not chosen his strategy. He could have answered reporters when asked, and suggested that his private life be private. Sam chaos a different approach. IMHO, his strategy was questionable.

Or he could chose a different path than to be ashamed of what he is as you would like him to do.

 

[Ring 6]

Bigotry is also fabricated often times by people who are looking for something to be outraged about so they portray any social sensitive matter as something that they are offended by. I say a straight man shouldn't talk about his personal life on national TV and it is a non issue, I say a gay man shouldn't talk about his personal life on TV and I'm a bigot and you're offended. Seems to be a double standard of what is acceptable to say about some and unacceptable to say about others.

OK, now I get it. Just direct me to all those posts you have made criticizing:
-Tom Brady smearing his personal life all over the landscape. I'm sure there will be a bunch for each time he was seen with Giselle. It should be easy to find the ones where you criticized him for recently having his kids in the public eye, instead of keeping his personal life personal.
-Bob Kraft having the audacity to make his personal life public with all of his comments about Myra.
-Vince Wilfork talking about his family.
-Tedy Bruschi talking about his personal life and how his stroke affected his wife and kids.
-Jerod Mayo bringing his daughter to media day.

Or is it just the part of someones personal life that you disagree with that is forbidden?

 

[mikey m]

I've already explained that. Lets start with your comment about what 'the right thing to do' was. Telling him that he should have hidden it until he established a career is ridiculously bigotted.

Offensive attitude #1.
He is living his life. You seem to want him to not be able to do so.
Since there are so many bigots out there, it draws attention.

I'm pretty sure he/I have said it would have been in Sam's best interest to keep it away from the media while trying to earn a spot in the NFL. Do I want homosexuals to feel like they have to hide who they are from the rest of society? Of course not. I'm sure that would be a horrible way to live.

Bigot - a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.

I know PC officers are sworn to serve and protect minorities whether they are actually under attack or not, but please stop throwing the word around so lightly. I find it offensive.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm pretty sure he/I have said it would have been in Sam's best interest to keep it away from the media while trying to earn a spot in the NFL. Do I want homosexuals to feel like they have to hide who they are from the rest of society? Of course not. I'm sure that would be a horrible way to live.

How could either of you pretend to tell Sam what is in his best interest?
If you don't want them to have to live that way, you cannot tell them it is wrong to go public.

Bigot - a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.

I know PC officers are sworn to serve and protect minorities whether they are actually under attack or not, but please stop throwing the word around so lightly. I find it offensive.

I feel it is being used appropriately here, but would note I have said a few times that while his beliefs are bigoted, I don't believe he intends to be bigoted, but that is, in fact, what his beliefs are causing.

 

[mgteich]

I don't think it would have played out any differently. Hanging out in a gay bar and kissing your partner is hardly a distraction. The people who have problems with it are the people who have problems with it. Again, not his fault.

I tend to agree. Sam's personal life had little effect on his being on an NFL roster. My point was that it was Sam who could have avoided lots of the publicity, if he so chose.

BTW, I was not commenting about Sam's hanging around at a gay bar. That is indeed no big deal. I was commenting about hanging out at a gay bar while waiting for a call from the NFL, and kissing his partner in front of lots of press. Players choose where to wait for the call from the NFL. They understand that the media will be present and that this is a public statement that they control. Some have chosen to be home with family, and some at gathering of college teammates. Some hang out with their agent and friends. Some have gone fishing. Sam chose to make HIS personal public statement. I agree that his talent, or lack thereof, speaks for itself and that his choice of public statement had little effect. And just BTW, I think that it is a credit to the NFL teams that they allowed Sam's talent to be the determinant of success.

 

[OhExaulted1]

So anyone think we should give Carriker a look?

 

[primetime]

I tend to agree. Sam's personal life had little effect on his being on an NFL roster. My point was that it was Sam who could have avoided lots of the publicity, if he so chose.

BTW, I was not commenting about Sam's hanging around at a gay bar. That is indeed no big deal. I was commenting about hanging out at a gay bar while waiting for a call from the NFL, and kissing his partner in front of lots of press. Players choose where to wait for the call from the NFL. They understand that the media will be present and that this is a public statement that they control. Some have chosen to be home with family, and some at gathering of college teammates. Some hang out with their agent and friends. Some have gone fishing. Sam chose to make HIS personal public statement. I agree that his talent, or lack thereof, speaks for itself and that his choice of public statement had little effect. And just BTW, I think that it is a credit to the NFL teams that they allowed Sam's talent to be the determinant of success.

On the other hand, draft day at Stadium in DC (a big, over-the-top strip bar) is supposed to be quite the spectacle since every DC-area prospect goes there with his crew to await the call.

 

[primetime]

So anyone think we should give Carriker a look?

No. He hasn't played since 2012 and even then he was merely okay. I doubt he could even beat out Jake Bequette at this point.

 

[OhExaulted1]

No. He hasn't played since 2012 and even then he was merely okay. I doubt he could even beat out Jake Bequette at this point.

What!?! That's not fair! No one can beat out Bequette! Not with the pictures he's holding on to.

 

[Ring 6]

I tend to agree. Sam's personal life had little effect on his being on an NFL roster. My point was that it was Sam who could have avoided lots of the publicity, if he so chose.

BTW, I was not commenting about Sam's hanging around at a gay bar.

How big of you.

That is indeed no big deal. I was commenting about hanging out at a gay bar while waiting for a call from the NFL, and kissing his partner in front of lots of press.

Yeah, but he was in his home.
Are you going to chastise all the players who kiss their girlfriends when they are drafted?

Players choose where to wait for the call from the NFL. They understand that the media will be present and that this is a public statement that they control. Some have chosen to be home with family, and some at gathering of college teammates. Some hang out with their agent and friends. Some have gone fishing. Sam chose to make HIS personal public statement.

So his 'statement' that his boyfriend, now husband, was watching the draft with him at his house is something that is wrong? Why?

 

[Sicilian]

No. He hasn't played since 2012 and even then he was merely okay. I doubt he could even beat out Jake Bequette at this point.

I really think this is Bequette's year. Lots of guys get through their entire rookie contract without playing a meaningful snap then go on to have great careers

 

[mgteich]

How big of you.


Yeah, but he was in his home.
Are you going to chastise all the players who kiss their girlfriends when they are drafted?


So his 'statement' that his boyfriend, now husband, was watching the draft with him at his house is something that is wrong? Why?

I questioned Sam's strategy of making coming out, focusing on having lots of interviews, and signing endorsement contracts. But obviously, his choices are his own.

I thought that Sam was in a gay bar when he received the news. If he was indeed at home with friends, I apologize for the error in my post. As I indicated, that is indeed where most receive news.

 

[mikey m]

How could either of you pretend to tell Sam what is in his best interest?
If you don't want them to have to live that way, you cannot tell them it is wrong to go public.


I feel it is being used appropriately here, but would note I have said a few times that while his beliefs are bigoted, I don't believe he intends to be bigoted, but that is, in fact, what his beliefs are causing.

So you believe it was in Sam's best interest to announce his sexuality, and also believe that the announcement is the very reason he is not playing in the NFL?

 

[primetime]

I thought that Sam was in a gay bar when he received the news. If he was indeed at home e=with friends, I apologize for the error in my post. As I indicated, that is indeed where most receive news.

Yeah, I'm fairly certain he was at home. Keep in mind he wasn't even certain he would be drafted. He was a compensation pick in the 7th round, right?

 

[Ring 6]

So you believe it was in Sam's best interest to announce his sexuality, and also believe that the announcement is the very reason he is not playing in the NFL?

I believe that my opinion of what is the best way for a gay man to deal with public disclosure of being gay is entirely and completely irrelevant and that I'm sure Sam did what is best for Sam.
Where did I say it is the reason he isn't in the NFL? I never even hinted at that. He is not in the NFL because of his ability as a football player which is probably borderline good enough to get him invited to a camp.

 

[Ring 6]

I questioned Sam's strategy of making coming out, focusing on having lots of interviews, and signing endorsement contracts. But obviously, his choices are his own.

No you said he 'chose to celebrate his sexuality'.
So now doing interviews is wrong? Signing endorsement contracts is a bad thing?
What did Sam do that other NFL players don't do? There is something about him (being the first openly gay player) that caused the media to want to speak to him. How is that different than Jadaveon Clowney having something about him (pass rushing ability) that makes the media want to speak to him.
Are you questioning Clowneys choices of doing interviews or taking endorsements?
I think not because you are not anti-pass rushing ability.

I thought that Sam was in a gay bar when he received the news. If he was indeed at home e=with friends, I apologize for the error in my post. As I indicated, that is indeed where most receive news.

But if he were, why is that wrong? If a straight player were in a bar would that be wrong? If he kissed his girlfriend after being drafted?

 

[OhExaulted1]

Yeah, I'm fairly certain he was at home. Keep in mind he wasn't even certain he would be drafted. He was a compensation pick in the 7th round, right?

#249. Of the 7 drafted after him only one (Dal DT Ken Bishop) actually appeared in the regular season (3 gms.).

 

[mikey m]

I believe that my opinion of what is the best way for a gay man to deal with public disclosure of being gay is entirely and completely irrelevant and that I'm sure Sam did what is best for Sam.
Where did I say it is the reason he isn't in the NFL? I never even hinted at that. He is not in the NFL because of his ability as a football player which is probably borderline good enough to get him invited to a camp.

I must have been mistaking another's post for yours. Apologies. If Sam was in a dark place and was truly unhappy with nobody knowing who he truly was, then you're right, no one can say he was wrong to make the announcement. If he had it within himself to postpone it to a later time and focus entirely on football I believe that is what he should have done. Not because I want homosexuals to keep to themselves, just because announcing it, which would surely create a media circus (which I am sure Sam did not want) could only hurt his chances at having an NFL career.

 

[mgteich]

How is that different than Jadaveon Clowney having something about him (pass rushing ability) that makes the media want to speak to him.

You really don't understand the difference between a player coming out and discussing this with the media on one hand, and Clowney discussing his pass rushing ability on the other. Really?

If I must, one discussion is about football; the other is about the private life of a player.

=========
Yes, I said that Sam made the conscious decision to have the media focus on his sexuality for months.

I suspect, given the marginal likelihood of him making lots of money as a football player, that he made a reasonable choice in coming out, and yes, having the media and organizations celebrate this step in the history of the NFL.

Perhaps, Sam indeed chose what was best for him. He made money as he could, through interviews and endorsements. He will get lots more money and publicity for his appearance on Dancing With The Stars. I suspect that he will have a book deal in his future. And no, there is nothing wrong with this.

I speculated on whether Sam's strategy was reasonable. Of course, I was speaking with regard to a future as a football player.