SM
Bayern vs. Augsburg: 19 hrs 37 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Missouri Tigers

DeMaurice Smith: 'Judge Michael Sam on his ability'

:Headline: DeMaurice Smith: 'Judge Michael Sam on his ability': ID:137395: from db_amp
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith urges teams to judge openly gay defensive end Michael Sam on his ability alone in May's Draft.

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith has urged teams to judge Missouri Tigers defensive end Michael Sam on his ability alone when deciding their picks for the upcoming Draft.

Sam is forecast as a mid-round pick in May's Draft, and he would become the first openly gay player in NFL history if he is chosen, having publicly come out earlier this week.

His announcement raised concerns over whether teams may be put off choosing him due to the reaction in the locker room, but Smith is hopeful that non-footballing matters will not play a part.

"All I can hope is that that's not the case. This is a rare, select group of athletes who can perform and play at the highest of levels," Smith told CSN Washington.

"I think that any team or general manager that would be short-sighted enough to not have one of the best players on their team because of some personal bias is not only short-changing the teammates on that team but giving into the dark, horrible prejudices that we all expect that people no longer have.

"I'm not Pollyanna about it, certainly, but my hope would be that in the same way that every player is graded by what he can accomplish on the field, that would be exactly the same standard that you'd want to apply to every player."

Smith also slammed the "gutless" group of anonymous NFL general managers who said that Sam's announcement will harm his Draft prospects.

amp_article__137395 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2014-02-12 19:36:12:
html db last update - 2014-02-12 19:36:12 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Michael Sam

Click here for more stories about Missouri Tigers

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .