Former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi has said that it could take time for openly gay Missouri Tigers player Michael Sam to be accepted within NFL locker rooms.

Draft prospect Sam came out earlier this week, and has received mostly positive support from the footballing and wider sports community.

However, although Bruschi stated that Sam will be welcomed, he admitted that it may take some time for some of his future teammates.

Bruschi said on television show Sports Center: "It's going to be unusual at first and I think that's what has to be the process that Sam's going to have to go through because a lot of these players in the NFL do not know him yet.

"They do not know him as the person that former teammates are talking about, that the University of Missouri is talking about - that quality of character that he has. They don't know him yet. What they know about him right now is that he's gay.

"I think players will move past it. I think it will be more difficult for some than others. You are talking about a locker room where there is immaturity, there is youth, and this is probably one of the most difficult situations that some of them will have to deal with up to this point of their lives, dealing with a gay teammate something that they haven't had to deal with before. It's different. It's uncommon. Putting young kids in that situation, you will get mixed reaction."

The 24-year-old is expected to be chosen between the third and fifth rounds of May's Draft, having been voted The AP's SEC Defensive Player of the Year for 2013.