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Thread: Pittsburgh Steelers Would Be Good Home For Michael Sam

  1. #1
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    Pittsburgh Steelers Would Be Good Home For Michael Sam

    Pittsburgh Steelers Would Be Good Home For Michael Sam

    BY CRAIG GOTTSCHALK - FEB 10TH, 2014



    It is 2014, and we finally have come to the moment where an openly gay athlete plays in the NFL (well almost). And, the Pittsburgh Steelers would be a good home for someone with Michael Sam’s skill and character.

    The soon to be graduated Missouri Tiger defensive end and 2013′s SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Sam, made claims to be openly gay while on Outside the Lines just two weeks before the combine begins. The media will swarm the combine, and Sam is sure to be the centerpiece of many features from the NFL Network to ESPN to his own hometown paper. What I hope does not happen in the maelstrom during that combine and leading up to the draft is that a pretty darn good football player gets lost within the mix of something that hopefully one day will not be considered ‘news’ and is treated with the same grain of indifference as if I just walked up to some stranger and told them I got laid last night.

    Let’s then turn this discussion to his accomplishments and skills.

    DE Michael Sam College Stats

    Year Tackles TFL Sacks FF
    2010 24 7.0 3.5 2
    2011 29 3.0 1.5 0
    2012 22 7.0 4.5 2
    2013* 48 19.0 11.5 2

    Sam had a monster senior year at Mizzou. He ate up linemen, ball carriers, and quarterbacks all season long. However, he reportedly struggled during the week of the Senior Bowl when NFL teams usually work out with certain prospects. As a defensive end, scouts sought out some drills and work to see if he could have the same effect rushing the line while standing up rather than in a 3-point. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport quoted a report from the Kansas City Star that scouts were not impressed.

    They tried him all over the place and he never really found an identity or comfort level that guys find during the week. It’s tough to play in a spot you’re not comfortable with in front of all these NFL teams and learn it in three days.

    Despite Sam’s struggles at trying to play OLB for three days, I think there is a huge upswing to having someone like Sam. True, my only example would be the progress we’ve seen in Jarvis Jones during the course of his rookie season. But, the Steelers could expect similar results with Sam over time. Jones and Sam are of the same cut, and we could see that as Jones began to improve technique, the natural speed he brings to the field becomes a good pass rushing combo. The Steelers lack depth at the linebacker position, and Sam could certainly be groomed as a starter while providing depth. Rob Rang from CBS Sports compares Sam to Elvis Dumervil. Sam does stand a chance in the league at the linebacker position if teams feel he is too small at the defensive end position.

    Lastly, Sam has shown that he exudes character and maturity. At 24, Michael Sam has proven before even stepping onto a field in the NFL that he has the character, class, and maturity to belong on a football team in the NFL. He has shown that he has endless courage for coming out as being gay before he even plays a snap, before he enters a training camp, before he is even selected by a team. I want that guy in my locker room. I want that guy to be lining up with my fellow teammates and battle on the field with his band of brothers.

    Teams in the NFL may think differently of what is best for them in the locker room. Remember, it was only last year’s draft when it was reported that then University of Colorado Nick Kasa was asked, “Do you have a girlfriend? Are you married? Do you like girls?” And let’s not fail to mention the continually unveiling of the Chris Kluwe situation in Minnesota. The league may have a ‘policy’ about discrimination in the workplace, but with the subjectivity involved with on-field job performance, that’s a very difficult thing to enforce unless there is some very damning evidence.

    Michael Sam probably won’t go in the first or second rounds. He will probably fall to the 3rd or 4th rounds unless he makes a huge impression during the combine – and even then he still might fall. The Steelers lack depth at LB and need to continue focusing on getting the median age down on defense. Sam possess speed and some skills to build off of during the early years of his NFL career. He possess a certain amount of maturity that not many young men in the league practice. And he is mighty courageous within the context of his life and his future as a professional football player.

    Michael Sam is gay, but he’s also a pretty damn good football player too – worthy enough to at least try on that Black & Gold. He did pretty well wearing it while at Missouri.

    [URL]http://nicepickcowher.com/2014/02/10/pittsburgh-steelers-good-home-michael-sam/?utm_source=FanSided&utm_medium=Network&utm_campai gn=Trending%20on%20FS[/URL]
    Steel Maniac's Time-Based Prediction: Lamar Jackson will be a bust and total flop in the NFL.

    What Actually Happened: Lamar Jackson became the youngest two-time NFL MVP winner ever.

    Gloat gloat gloat


    Boom........

    Hahahahahahaha

  2. #2
    Legend

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    He's 24??? He'll be retiring by the time he learns our D.

    I also wanna know more about the improvement this guy saw in JJ's game...

  3. #3
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    I'd be fine with him but it would have to be much lower than 4th (and 3rd round would be criminal). Stats look good but if you break them down - 9 out of his 11.5 sacks last season came against 3 teams: Vanderbilt, Arkansas St, and Florida - all three being mediocre to bad competition. Also, there's no chance he's playing his college position in the NFL so you are taking on a project who will be learning a new position. You don't risk a higher round pick on that, not with the lots of needs this team has now.

    And like it or not, the team has to be ready for a media circus not related to him being a football player. All of a sudden you have the Today Show and Good Morning America, etc showing up to talk about his sexual preference, not whether he can chase down a mobile QB. Plus, lets say he can't legitimately make the transition to the NFL. Ton of BS backlash if you cut him.

    If the Steelers thought he had a high upside and the capacity to learn a new position, then by all means, bring him in as a later round choice. He has a good motor, is athletic, certainly showed character with the announcement before the draft, and I think he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulder which could equate to maximum effort.

  4. #4
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    It might also reduce the number of post title double entendres that pop up now and then on the board regarding #22


    We got our "6-PACK" - time to work on a CASE!

    HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ghost View Post
    I'd be fine with him but it would have to be much lower than 4th (and 3rd round would be criminal). Stats look good but if you break them down - 9 out of his 11.5 sacks last season came against 3 teams: Vanderbilt, Arkansas St, and Florida - all three being mediocre to bad competition. Also, there's no chance he's playing his college position in the NFL so you are taking on a project who will be learning a new position. You don't risk a higher round pick on that, not with the lots of needs this team has now.

    And like it or not, the team has to be ready for a media circus not related to him being a football player. All of a sudden you have the Today Show and Good Morning America, etc showing up to talk about his sexual preference, not whether he can chase down a mobile QB. Plus, lets say he can't legitimately make the transition to the NFL. Ton of BS backlash if you cut him.

    If the Steelers thought he had a high upside and the capacity to learn a new position, then by all means, bring him in as a later round choice. He has a good motor, is athletic, certainly showed character with the announcement before the draft, and I think he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulder which could equate to maximum effort.
    This, 100% , especially the backlash part if he were to be cut, stay away, unless you are certain he is making the team.

    Pappy


    1.20 -
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    3.84 -
    3.98 -
    4.119 -
    7.178 -
    7.195 -

    "Football is a physical game, well, it used to be anyways" - Mel Blount


  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by papillon View Post
    This, 100% , especially the backlash part if he were to be cut, stay away, unless you are certain he is making the team.

    Pappy
    I disagree completely. If you don't think he's going to make the team, why draft him in the first place?

    People need to just forget all the crap about the locker room maybe not accepting him and what happens if he's cut and just draft him and treat him as you would any other football player...

    Until teams behave this way with gay players, it will always create a big media circus...

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Slapstick View Post
    I disagree completely. If you don't think he's going to make the team, why draft him in the first place?

    People need to just forget all the crap about the locker room maybe not accepting him and what happens if he's cut and just draft him and treat him as you would any other football player...

    Until teams behave this way with gay players, it will always create a big media circus...
    As a late round pick which he is going to be the possibility of being cut is very high. All I'm saying is I wouldn't draft him late, because if he is cut it will be a media circus because of his sexual orientation. Teams don't select 5th and 6th round players expecting them to make the team (they are looking for Tom Brady, Richard Sherman, etc), well, maybe the Browns do.

    Pappy


    1.20 -
    2.51 -
    3.84 -
    3.98 -
    4.119 -
    7.178 -
    7.195 -

    "Football is a physical game, well, it used to be anyways" - Mel Blount


  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by papillon View Post
    Teams don't select 5th and 6th round players expecting them to make the team (they are looking for Tom Brady, Richard Sherman, etc), well, maybe the Browns do.

    Pappy
    They are looking for Antonio Brown types...

    But, again, if you are drafting a guy, there must be something on tape that you like, something that gives him a chance to make the team, or else you wouldn't waste the pick...

  9. #9
    Legend

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ghost View Post
    I'd be fine with him but it would have to be much lower than 4th (and 3rd round would be criminal). Stats look good but if you break them down - 9 out of his 11.5 sacks last season came against 3 teams: Vanderbilt, Arkansas St, and Florida - all three being mediocre to bad competition. Also, there's no chance he's playing his college position in the NFL so you are taking on a project who will be learning a new position. You don't risk a higher round pick on that, not with the lots of needs this team has now.

    And like it or not, the team has to be ready for a media circus not related to him being a football player. All of a sudden you have the Today Show and Good Morning America, etc showing up to talk about his sexual preference, not whether he can chase down a mobile QB. Plus, lets say he can't legitimately make the transition to the NFL. Ton of BS backlash if you cut him.

    If the Steelers thought he had a high upside and the capacity to learn a new position, then by all means, bring him in as a later round choice. He has a good motor, is athletic, certainly showed character with the announcement before the draft, and I think he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulder which could equate to maximum effort.

    probably not tight end
    steelers = 3 ring circus with tomlin being the head clown

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Slapstick View Post
    They are looking for Antonio Brown types...

    But, again, if you are drafting a guy, there must be something on tape that you like, something that gives him a chance to make the team, or else you wouldn't waste the pick...
    We draft and cut players all the time... all Pap is saying is THIS cut would come with intense scrutiny. It isn't worth it IMO for a late rounder

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