The news of top defensive draft prospect Michael Sam coming out as gay just weeks before the NFL combine has dominated the headlines on the American sports networks.
Never before has a currently active NFL player come out, and yet Sam has chosen to do it before he has even entered the league.
Both current and former players have emerged in unanimous support of Sam and his decision to announce his sexuality, but much of the debate has been over the timing of the announcement.
The NFL released a statement on Monday in support of Sam, stating "We admire Michael Sam's honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014"
Michael Sam will enter the 2014 NFL Draft in May
Let's be clear, this shouldn't be news, but it is. A man's sexuality shouldn't have a bearing on his draft prospects or the way he is treated within the sport, but the sad reality is that it may well do for Sam. Sam's footballing skills and talent are undisputed and that should be all that counts. But for possibly the most macho sport in the world, image counts for a great deal. Some franchises will not want to deal with him at all - they could do without the 'distraction' of one players sexual orientation from the business of football. For others, it may be seen as an opportunity to raise the profile of the team and franchise.
Sam actually came out to his teammates in August and has played all season with his team knowing his sexual orientation. No one broke the news because it didn't matter, and his decision to announce it to the wider world has been supported by the reaction from his Missouri State team and coaching staff.
Sam is predicted to go anywhere between the third and fifth rounds of the draft in early May, and the general consensus is that the decision to come out now provides more positives than negatives.
As a ground breaker, he will unfortunately spend an inordinate amount of his time discussing his sexuality over the day to day goings on in football, wherever he may end up. I wish him all the best for his future career.
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