If people think Sam played and measured out like a 7th rounder then that's one interpretation I guess.
But to look at this from a different perspective....If Clowney comes out as gay 15 days before the draft does he still get picked #1? How about Blake Bortles? Is he still #3 or are Aaron Murray and AJ McCarron looking a little better all of a sudden?
How about Jimmy Garopalo? If he comes out a couple weeks before the draft, then right after the draft says he's making a documentary is he still a Patriot?
I'm not sure.
It would almost undoubtedly affect their draft stock in a negative way -- the same way it certainly added some negative value to Sam's draft stock.
I think the potential of a full blown media circus would negatively affect things more than him being gay.
I think a year from now, if a gay player is in the 2015 draft, it won't play out the same way as the Sam thing. It'll be more along the lines of "been there, done that".
Talent's talent but if that talent is going to bring in all sorts of media coverage and create potential distractions for your team, then some organizations would think twice about taking that player.
Gotta disagree -- I think that a lot of football organizations would hide the latent homophobia under the idea of a 'media circus.' Johnny Manziel was always going to bring a media circus wherever he went, ala Tebow, but the same player is a third rounder if he's gay instead of a spoiled child of wealthy Texans(in addition to a drinking problem).
Sure, teams knew that Manziel was going to bring a media circus. I wouldn't be shocked if a couple of teams passed or dropped him on their depth charts for that very reason. They didn't want the added distraction of media insanity.
Does he drop 2 rounds because he's gay, though? I don't know about that. Especially in a league where a QB is the most valuable position and the right QB is often the franchise game changer. If he has the talent, a team is gonna take him.
I think the homophobia in sports thing is overblown. I bet there are dozens of "closeted" homosexuals playing in the four major sports these days. Their teammates and coaches probably know and don't make much of it.
The Sam story is unique because he came out publicly and that act still reasonates as novel in the eyes of the media and they'll make a huge story out of it.