By Richard Sawyer

Someone who is likely to be to be drafted into the NFL has come out as gay. Does this matter?

No.

All that matters is if the offensive tackle can pass block, block the run, pick

up on the blitz, and simply do his job as he is supposed to. The fact that there

has to be a debate about the sexual orientation of a potential player is appalling.

Michael Sam is on his way to becoming the first active player to be openly

gay in the NFL. This is a huge step in a world that is known for its macho

hetro-male oriented culture. The wider world got a partial inside look this season

at just how demeaning the culture is. The Incognito case showed us just bad it

can be behind the scenes when the cameras are not around. Bullying and hazing

is rampant.

Does this mean that an openly gay man can’t survive in this culture?

Of course he can survive. The idea that Sam has not been subjected to

this before is ridiculous. It’s not like he hasn’t been a part of that culture in some

form already.

The biggest problem is that the NFL is a good ol’ boys club. Meaning that

those who run it are from a past that is growing obsolete and incompatible with

modern America. There have been several anonymous executives reported to

have said that the league simply isn’t ready for someone who is openly gay. One

even said that it might be ready in “a decade or two.”

Herman Edwards, who is an ESPN analyst and ex-NFL head coach, said

that being gay means you are carrying emotional baggage into the locker room.

Yet, players from all around the league—a younger demographic—have publicly

supported Michael Sam’s decision to come out.

When a player gets drafted they are not just ranked and picked for their

on-field ability. Coaches and their staff weigh a whole bunch of other metrics too.

Some of these are intelligence, coping with stress, team cohesiveness, and

more. Before Sam’s pubic announcement he had been ranked between the third

and sixth depending on the mock. Some of those anonymous executives said

that Sam was going to fall in their rankings and possibly not be drafted at all.

The NFL is now the most powerful and highest earning of any professional

American sport. They can count in great numbers that their fan base is more then

just men. It has a following that has begun to transcend stereotypical

demographics. It attracts men and women from different cultural identities,

economic statuses, geographic location, and yes, even different sexualities. By

alienating one segment of their followers they stand to alienate a much larger

segment of their fan base.

It is time the National Football League grows up. They have consistently been behind the public norm.

Concussions and bullying are good examples of being behind the curve.

The consensus around the country is no longer a homophobic atmosphere. It has quickly evolved into one of acceptance.

If Michael Sam does not get drafted for the sole reason that he is gay, the

NFL will have a lot to answer for.