Arizona Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby has expressed his belief that players will "adjust" to having Michael Sam in their team.

Sam will become the first openly gay player in NFL history if he is chosen in this year's Draft having publicly come out during a television interview last Sunday.

Dansby played down the announcement and believes that Sam's football ability will be enough to earn him the respect of whichever team eventually chooses him.

"If it happens, it happens. You have to adjust to that. We're all related to football. Everything is related to football. If he leaves that outside the locker room, then that's good. Everybody knew it was coming sooner or later. So Sam coming out, hey, it's OK. We know where you stand," Dansby told reporters.

"Can the man play ball? He was the defensive player of the year in the SEC. Do you know how hard that is? That's so hard to get. That shows he can play the game. If you're not a good football player, you won't be on this level. It's the cream of the crop. Every player in this league is a cream of the crop. In order to keep your job, you have to be the best.

"That's the only way you can really relate because that man lives an entirely different life outside of football. I don't think he'll be the distraction. I think the media will be the distraction. Let the man be. Let the man live his life. You can't judge people, man. We're not God."

Sam has been projected as a mid-round Draft pick.