Quotable: Michael Sam pick could change Missouri law
Sam is breaking ground in the NFL and might be helping to provoke change off the field as well.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
"Michael Sam could still be fired for just being gay according to MO law. Let's fix that in Jeffcity."
- Sen. Claire McCaskill, Missouri
NFL Draft
McCaskill tweeted out the above comment, according to USA Today. Under current Missouri state law, a person can be refused the right to work at a company based on their sexual preferences. Sam, who became the first openly gay NFL player on Saturday when the St. Louis Rams selected him in the seventh round, could become a lightning rod for this type of conversation.
Dara Strickland, the local LGBT Community Center board president, says discrimination against gay or transgendered people does not need to be concealed by employers in the state.
“You can apply for a job in Missouri at least, and there’s no protection for being asked, ‘By the way, are you gay?’ and being explicitly told, ‘You know, we don’t hire gay people.’ You can be fired for being gay, lesbian or transgender,” she said.
“I can’t even tell you the last time I sat and watched. But my expectations here are to show that I can compete at a high level and lead this team.”
- Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater
After being made the 32nd overall pick and the final first round selection on Thursday night, Bridgewater feels he is ready to compete for a starting spot immediately, per the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. This is likely music to the ears of Vikings fans, who are likely yearning for anybody other than Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel under center.
Brad Penner, USA Today Sports
Rich Gannon, a former NFL quarterback and currently a Sirius XM radio analyst, believes Bridgewater fell into a nice spot to grow and develop. An ex-Vikings signal-caller, Gannon thinks Bridgewater should sit and learn but still see plenty of action when the time is right, such as in preseason games and in blowouts.
"I always say that there’s a fine line between holding a clipboard and how much you really learn compared to being out there when the bullets are flying," said Gannon. "Having to make quick decisions, that’s really where you learn."
Should Bridgewater sit to begin the season, he will likely join Blake Bortles, the third overall pick in the draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, as highly-touted quarterbacks who will be standing on the sidelines.
"I have so much respect for Alex Smith and his family, and great regard for him as a player. He’s the epitome of a good man and teammate and a good player. I know the Kansas City Chiefs staff, and they are thrilled to have him. We’ll see how it works out for us. It’s still early."
- Trent Baalke, 49ers general manager
Baalke made one of the larger deals in recent NFL history in terms of importance last offseason, dealing former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith to the Chiefs for a pair of second-round draft picks.
The move was made to allow for Colin Kaepernick to become the starter in San Francisco, while acquiring picks to build more talent around him. To this point, Baalke turned that ammunition into even more selections, acquiring defensive lineman Tank Carradine, running back Carlos Hyde, linebackers Corey Lemonier and Chris Borland, and receiver Steve Johnson, per Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback.
Smith led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in 2011 before losing in overtime to the New York Giants. The following year, Smith once again had the team poised to make a title run before losing his job after sustaining a concussion. Kaepernick took over and brought San Francisco to the Super Bowl, where it fell to the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Kaepernick fell short of another appearance in the big game, losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the conference title game.
“We are committed. I want you to believe me when I say that. I always tell you guys that I’ll never say never because I don’t want to paint myself in a corner, but when I do say something, I do it and I mean it and I try to fulfill it.”
- Doug Whaley, Bills general manager
After drafting E.J. Manuel in last year's first round, the Buffalo Bills are preverbially all-in on his future. Whaley told the Buffalo News he wanted to surround Manuel with weapons during the draft. He started by trading up to select Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins, which cost the team next year's first round pick.
With Buffalo's second-round selection, the team took Alabama offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio off the board. With those additions, Whaley appears confident Manuel can succeed, especially with running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson already in tow.
"I’m in the middle of writing a text that Dallas is going to take him and the phone rings and it’s the Steelers. Good thing I didn’t send out that text."
-Vernon Shazier, Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier's father
With the 15th overall pick on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers were only one slot ahead of the Dallas Cowboys. They chose to select Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier, while most people were alredy fixated on the idea that Dallas would select Johnny Manziel.
As it turns out, Shazier would have been the pick, according to the Dallas Morning News. Jimmy Sexton, the agent for Shazier, was actually on the phone with the Cowboys when the Steelers swooped in and selected his client.
"We knew the risks associated with Gordon last year, and the majority of us were going to protest to the nth degree if the previous front office had dealt him away for a second-round pick. Now, unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to suffer the consequences of that."
- Chris Pokorny, Browns SB Nation blogger
With wide receiver Josh Gordon facing a potential year-long suspension for an alleged third failed drug test, the Cleveland Browns might be without their top playmaker for 2014. Gordon led the league in receiving yardage despite missing the first two games of last season, amassing over 1,600 yards.
After drafting Johnny Manziel in the first round, things were finally looking up for Browns fans. While the future still holds plenty of promise, the news of Gordon’s possible suspension puts a major cloud in front of the sun.
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