Michael Sam’s agent not worried at all about draft position
theGRIO REPORT - For all of the focus on how the 'locker room' will react to NFL prospect Michael Sam's announcement that he's gay, it's easy to forget that he has to get drafted first...
For all of the focus on how the ‘locker room’ will react to NFL prospect Michael Sam’s announcement that he’s gay, it’s easy to forget that he has to get drafted first.
And he will – but where he is drafted and how his announcement will impact his draft position seems to be a hot-button issue.
Sam’s agent Cameron Weiss told theGrio in a phone interview Tuesday he is “not worried” at all about his client’s draft stock falling.
“Things happen for a reason,” Weiss said. “Whoever ends up taking Michael is going to be overjoyed to have an individual with such integrity and courage.”
Most analysts had tapped Sam as a mid-round draft pick, somewhere between the fourth and sixth rounds depending on what outlet you trust. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year dropped a bit after his announcement on some draft sites, but is still expected to be taken in that mid-round range.
Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe met with Sam last weekend before he made he made his announcement. Kluwe has been outspoken in his support for gay rights and marriage equality — something he alleges cost him his job with the Minnesota Vikings.
Kluwe said Tuesday on NBC Sports’ The Dan Patrick Show the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots would be “good choices” as landing spots for Sam.
Weiss said it’s no surprise to him that most of the teams that journalists, commentators and some NFL players have suggested would be good for Sam are all winning franchises.
Free agent wide receiver and NFL veteran Donté Stallworth agrees, tweeting this week that if an NFL team cannot handle the attention that will surely follow Sam this season, they’re already losers:
If an organization is inept to the magnitude of not being able to control things with prior knowledge, how will you handle the unexpected?
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) February 10, 2014
Weiss said Sam is currently preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine which takes place later this month in Indianapolis. Sam has not given interviews beyond what he shared with the New York Times and ESPN for his announcement, though he has tweeted several ‘thank you’ messages for those who have supported him.
“Locker room distractions are a real thing,” Weiss said of why perhaps Sam’s announcement has raised some concerns around the NFL. “When a media circus accompanies a player, teams feel like it can take away the focus on football. But that’s not the case here. Any team that brings [Sam] in will be well suited and well prepared.”
Follow theGrio.com’s Todd Johnson on Twitter @rantoddj
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