One of the biggest questions following Michael Sam’s announcement he is homosexual is how the former Missouri defensive end will be treated in an NFL locker room, because, assuming he gets drafted, he will become the league’s first openly gay player.
Numerous players have given their views on the subject, and the latest opinion came from former Cowboys defensive end and 12-year veteran Greg Ellis.
“If he can get out there — he doesn’t need to say anything,” Ellis told the Dallas ESPN Radio affiliate this week, when asked about what Sam would first need to do when he got to his team. “He needs go in there, close his mouth and play football to let the guys know that, ‘Hey if you guys give me a chance to welcome me into this fraternity of this football team, I can contribute and help us win football games.’ That’s going to be his best approach in my opinion.”
Ellis said banter that is commonplace among heterosexual players could be seen in a different light if it comes from Sam.
“If he pats somebody on the butt, how is that to be received?… If he said, ‘Come on baby’? I called guys ‘baby’ all the time on the football field, but when you have taken a stand and went and go public and say that, ‘I am gay,’ how is that going to be received?” Ellis asked. “I’ve seen guys, I had guys on the Dallas Cowboys football team — I won’t mention names — who did not want you to pat them on their butt. So God forbid if you pat one of those guys on the butt, it’s going to be a major problem.”
Sam is scheduled to speak at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday.