Could Michael Sam 'Fit In' In Foxboro?
BOSTON (CBS) - "I came to tell the world that I'm an openly gay proud man," Michael Sam told ESPN. Now that the University of Missouri's All-American defensive lineman has come out, he's poised to be the first openly gay NFL player. "It's kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be...I want to be a football player in the NFL."
"There's going to be some maturity issues with some players that he may play against," said former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria. "But in the end, the best revenge, the best satisfaction is winning."
Since Sam joined Twitter Saturday, he has picked up more than 60,000 followers.
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Some sports analysts speculate he could be a good fit with the Patriots. "Could he fit in here? Yes, because I think more importantly he's a leader. He's courageous…this is wild wild West mentality," said Fauria.
Gay rights advocates are applauding Sam's move. Mac Chinsomboon formed the Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation a decade ago when he was a student at MIT. "In men's professional sports, there's this whole machismo that goes on. It's really going to open doors, literally the locker room door for a lot of young athletes," he said.
Michael Sam led the University of Missouri to win its division after he came out to his teammates in August. Now that he's a top NFL prospect, the world watches.
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