Michael Sam getting a reality show-Updated: Not

[JO_75]

Somehow, someway a 7th Round Draft pick for the Rams has gotten more coverage than the Rams' first round pick Greg Robinson. Not only can you buy Michael Sam jerseys on NFL Shop but you can now watch him in a Reality Show.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/14/michael-sam-gets-a-reality-show-on-oprahs-network/

 

Kinda glad he didn't go undrafted now since it was reported that we were one of the teams wanting to sign him. I wouldn't want this reality show garbage in Baltimore. Feel sorry for Jeff Fisher and the Rams to now have to deal with this.

[hawkprey]

This is pretty much why no one before him came out. Oher's career could've done without the movie. So could Sam's.

[52520Andrew]

Yeah I generally don't care for players that attract all this attention. Hope all works out well for the kid, I am just glad the Ravens don't have to deal with the distractions that come along with him. In a perfect world, noone would care

[AwakenTheDemon]

I can't believe Sam agreed to it, I thought he said he didn't want to be treated any differently than any other player. And I also can't see Fisher being thrilled with this. If I were Sam, I'd want as little additional fanfare and scrutiny upon me as possible and put my entire attention on making the Rams squad, which is already an uphill battle with the talent they have.

 

I'm truly rooting for Sam, as I think a players sexually should not affect him being able to play in the NFL. There was no huge scandal in Mizz when he played those years before coming out, and some of his teammates even suspected him of being gay, and things turned out fine.

 

I hear you on the Oher thing. The ridiculous amount of attention he had from the movie, made him a huge name to casual fans as a professional right tackle, when his play did not live up to his "reputation". If Sam isn't careful, he could be looking at more difficulties than just being percieved as more talented in the NFL than he really is due to diluted casual fans.

[T3hRaven]

Looks like he's trying to cash in while he can.  He's a longshot to have a long term career.

[CalvinSmoke]

... Well... just because i wouldn't do it doesn't mean it's not a good idea. Make your money while you can Sam.

[arnie_uk]

... Well... just because i wouldn't do it doesn't mean it's not a good idea. Make your money while you can Sam.

so what about his blatant lie, saying he wants it to be about football, not sexuality. It cut him immediately.

[BloodRaven]

The circus is in town.

[Moderator 2]

This is pretty much why no one before him came out. Oher's career could've done without the movie. So could Sam's.

I love the movie, still tear up at the end as he is coming out of the tunnel with #52 to great him BUT he is not the great L tackle and he did OK as a R tackle but he is a bust because of the movie

Looks like he's trying to cash in while he can. He's a longshot to have a long term career.

Exactly average career is 3 years.

The circus is in town.

Agreed! I prefer under the radar! The media has nothing good to say about us anyway.

[The Mom Gene]

I'm just wondering how the other St. Louis Rams draftees feel...  Did the Front Office, other players and coaches know about the Oprah deal?    You gotta think that they don't want this distraction and what this is going to bring to this team...that already struggles as it is.  I could care less about any of it....  The topic should be about FOOTBALL...  PERIOD!  There were almost 300 other players drafted this past weekend....  what are we hearing about them?

[berad]

Don't like it, don't watch.

 

The reason the media - every media outlet - is talking about it is because people tune in to see it. Same thing with Favre, Tebow, Manziel, and whoever else.

 

Who cares? I might watch it, might not. OWN shows some re-runs of Undercover Boss which are sometimes fun to watch but I don't think my Cox Cable gets the channel. Minimal if any impact on my life.

[Corvus]

So much for him vehemently defending himself as fully focused on football as he has been saying for the last few weeks. If he was, he would have zero interest in telling what would have to be his personal story on Oprah as I'm certain her viewers could care less about the Xs and Os. I don't wish anythig bad on the kid, its just disappointing to me he felt the need to further expound on something he claimed he didn't need to discuss further.

[JO_75]

so what about his blatant lie, saying he wants it to be about football, not sexuality. It cut him immediately.

 

There are 4 pages so far but it seems that's what the consensus is on the Rams forum.

 

http://www.ramsondemand.com/threads/the-oprah-winfrey-network-will-broadcast-a-documentary-on-michael-sams-efforts-to-make-the-team.26010/

[BloodRaven]

Agreed! I prefer under the radar! The media has nothing good to say about us anyway.

 

There are a few problems the organization has to deal with now, first is the distraction of one player splitting his focus between football and his reality show camera crew and media storm that will surround him for the next few years. If he doesn't get to the QB and remains on the team then people will accuse the Rams of having a political and social agenda.

 

A bigger problem arises if he is cut, he had a late round/udfa grade because he's a marginal talent at this level but that wouldn't necessarily matter, the media and even Sam could acuse the Rams of being discriminatory and easily file a lawsuit claiming he was bullied and harassed.

[Gordo52]

Rams got them selves into a mess.

[berad]

There are a few problems the organization has to deal with now, first is the distraction of one player splitting his focus between football and his reality show camera crew and media storm that will surround him for the next few years. If he doesn't get to the QB and remains on the team then people will accuse the Rams of having a political and social agenda.

A bigger problem arises if he is cut, he had a late round/udfa grade because he's a marginal talent at this level but that wouldn't necessarily matter, the media and even Sam could acuse the Rams of being discriminatory and easily file a lawsuit claiming he was bullied and harassed.

What his career will boil down to is if he can play or not. Tim Tebow had the 'media circus' and a huge fan following, too. He also publicized himself highly, there's nothing wrong with that.

[arnie_uk]

What his career will boil down to is if he can play or not. Tim Tebow had the 'media circus' and a huge fan following, too. He also publicized himself highly, there's nothing wrong with that.

he also couldnt play.

[berad]

he also couldnt play.

That's the whole point

[Clutch Ravens]

Marginal talent, 7th round draft pick bringing a distraction to the team?

 

Won't be surprised if he's not in the NFL come the start of the season. All the media outlets that don't actually understand the draft/the fact that he's just not a very good football player will bash the NFL as homophobic. Sam'll be all over the place pedaling his sop story. It'll even make the news in the UK. 

[BloodRaven]

What his career will boil down to is if he can play or not. Tim Tebow had the 'media circus' and a huge fan following, too. He also publicized himself highly, there's nothing wrong with that.

It's easy to say it boils down to how he plays, but how he plays isn't the reason why his jersey is outselling Clowney's, nor is it the reason why he has a reality show deal with Oprah. He already has a personal army of bloggers and activists backing him who were incensed that he was a late round pick, placing the blame squarely on discrimination against his sexual preference.

[T3hRaven]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/15/teammate-has-concerns-about-michael-sams-reality-show/

 

So it begins.  Anonymous players having concerns about the reality show.  I would too honestly, but this is just the beginning of the media creating drama surrounding that team.

[mg90]

Guy needs money. We all need money. That's the only reason he needs. It's definitely not guaranteed he gets it in the nfl. I think it's possible he would prefer to not do the documentary, but sees this as an opportunity. What else is he supposed to say anyway? You want him to admit he has priorities besides football?

[display name]

"I want to be known as Michael Sam the football player, not Michael Sam the gay football player."

"Now I want a movie about me so that everyone can see what it's like to be a gay football player!"

Edit: I'm paraphrasing that last quote; Sam never really said that.

[theblackdog]

  I have to remind myself that he's young, likely a wee bit naive about how his actions can change perceptions, and that he's probably listening more to his agent, who has an interest in getting Michael Sam's name out there to get lots and lots of $$$.

 

Still, if the dude wants to make sure to get the respect he wants, he needs to put his nose to the grindstone and show that he's the Michael Sam who was a star player at Mizzou who had the cameras on him for his play, not the mediocre player we saw at the combine who is now going to have a reality show.  If he clearly isn't picking up the playbook during training camp and he's not even trying to get past blockers during preseason games, the Rams should cut him, social justice warrior bloggers be damned!

 

If Sam were to take a moment and think about it, he should put off the show until he's actually made the team, and proven that he can be focused on football first.

[Purple Nurple]

The absolute worst thing he could have done. Moron.

[The Raven]

On one hand, he's a hypocrite and he's causing drama. On the other hand, he's serving as a catalyst for some much needed social change, and a reality TV show could push that change further. Also, money is pretty cool and stuff.

[bpytnjr58]

The circus is in town.

It will really be a circus if the Rams cut him before the season starts.

[cobrajet]

That is one distraction I am glad the Ravens don't have to deal with. Football is a team sport, I know Michael Sam broke ground and I am happy for him, but he should be all about football now and get serious about making his team.

[bpytnjr58]

That is one distraction I am glad the Ravens don't have to deal with. Football is a team sport, I know Michael Sam broke ground and I am happy for him, but he should be all about football now and get serious about making his team.

I think he is good enough to make the team and if he had not come out them I am guessing that he would have went in the third or fourth round. The Ravens definitely did not need this media circus and besides....Players getting into trouble is distraction enough.

[Mt. Crushmore]

Interesting...