The NFL's First Openly Gay Player Michael Sam Is Introduced
Defensive end Michael Sam stepped into history on Tuesday (May 13) telling reporters, "It's ok to be who you are. Whether you are gay, straight, black or white. It's ok to be comfortable in your own skin." Sam was introduced by the NFL's Saint Louis Rams along with other members of the team's 2014 rookie class.
The University of Missouri athlete became the first openly gay player to be selected in a National Football League Draft when he was taken in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday.
Sam, the co-defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference who announced he was gay in February, would become the first openly gay player in the NFL should he make the team's 53-man regular season roster this summer.
"I want to thank Mr Kroenke, Coach Fisher and Mr Sneed for giving me this opportunity to play for the St Louis Rams. I'm very grateful and very blessed to be a part of this organization and help this team to win a championship," Sam said expressing his sentiments to the team's owner, head coach and general manager.
The defensive end was taken on the 249th pick in the last round of the three-day draft at Radio City Music Hall.
Television cameras captured Sam receiving the phone call informing him of his selection, the Texan breaking into tears and shaking with joy at the news.
The 6-feet-2 (1.88 m), 260-pound (118 kg) Sam led the conference in sacks and in tackles for a loss, but waited until seven picks before the end of the draft to hear his name called after his stock fell following mediocre results at February's scouting combine.
"I was just praying and had faith in god and I believed in my talents and Mr Kroenke, Coach Fisher and Mr Sneed and they all believed in my talents and here I am," Sam explained when asked about the tension of waiting for a team to pick him.