Rams' Jeff Fisher was thinking about drafting Michael Sam for days

[Auggie]

nfl.com / 5-10-14

With the clock running out on the seventh and final round of the 2014 NFL Draft on Saturday evening and the St. Louis Rams holding two of the last eight picks, Rams coach Jeff Fisher turned to general manager Les Snead and team president Kevin Demoff and said, "Let's go get Michael Sam" -- and the NFL changed forever.

When Fisher announced his intention to draft Sam, the former Missouri star hoping to become the NFL's first openly gay player, there was a perceptible buzz in the Rams' war room, largely because no one else saw it coming.

SNIP

A few minutes later, as he paced excitedly around his office, Fisher revealed to me that he'd been privately considering the Sam move for several days.

"I've been thinking about it," Fisher said. "Look, he's a good football player. We're glad to have him. We got better when we took him. And we're gonna do everything we can to get the most out of him. It's exciting."

FULL STORY: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000349452/article/st-louis-rams-draft-michael-sam-make-nfl-history

[BootinUp]

1. Cool.

[joeybee12]

2. KNR...I've become a Jeff Fisher fan..nt

[lark]

11. I'm a Jaguars fan and can't forgive Fisher for his snarkiness to my team.

However, putting that aside, I'm happy that he was able to get past the hoopla, not let the MO right wing crazies intimidate him, and did the right thing. His football team is better for the additon of Michael Sam. I was really hoping the Jaguars would take him.

[bigwillq]

3. Good for Fisher.

All the best to Michael Sam.

[bluedigger]

4. Always did like Jeff Fisher.

[Auggie]

7. Me too … BTW, Sam will be with former Missouri teammates on the Rams

[PeteSelman]

5. Regardless of what anyone thinks, this was a ballsy move.

Jeff Fisher and the Rams organization deserve kudos for taking a pioneering stance. They made a point by drafting Sam, who otherwise would not have been drafted, and the point was to drag the Neanderthals and religious nuts that pervade the NFL into the 21st century.

This is an even bigger deal than people are making it and I'd love it if Sam plays well enough not only to make the team but to go all pro. That would really up the stakes.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. And, That Tool From Miami Got Suspended By The Team

The NFL is standing up on this. Guy tweets a horrible comment and the team comes down on him. Good for them.

[beac]

8. Plus, he was made to publicly apologize to Sam AND

"must undergo educational training before he can return to the Dolphins, according to the team."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10919412/don-jones-miami-dolphins-apologizes-fined-tweet-reacting-rams-selection-michael-sam

Bravo, Miami!

[dicksmc3]

9. good for Jeff Fischer

I was wondering when Jeff would tell us fans about his thinking concerning Mr. Sam. We fans of the Rams remember a few years back when WINDBAG LIMPBALLS was rightly turned down for ownership of the Rams. Thank you owners for that vote!!

[PatrynXX]

10. gay or not he's a football player

you look at the stats you make the call.

I suppose like movies. if the movies good I usually ignore what the actor/actress does politically or religion (say Tom Cruise) some see Tom and shun his movies. Although he hasn't done a good movie since The Last Samurai and not sure what to expect out of Top Gun 2.. Certainly could do a Days of Thunder 2. all the main actors are still alive and Robert Duvall is now independent , he's not Republican anymore. not that I knew that he was like James Earl Jones. Supposedly he's Republican. again not that I knew that.

although I might feel a bit uncomfortable in the locker room but then again I always hated locker rooms. as I used to be bullied back in the day.. oddly I knew one guy though who really had to risk it when we found out someone locked the men's locker room while we were outside. so the one guy had to risk it going thru blind in the female locker room. (screaming time) he was later a popular kickboxer but then fell on hard times and was jailed for breaking into a bar smashing a pinball game to get the money out had the same first name as me. I wouldn't have called him a bully, he wasn't that nice but not a bully. We got along (circa 1990-1991)

[LynneSin]

12. I'll go with the one question that Celtics great Bill Russell said he would ask any gay player...

Can you play?


That is all that counts in my book!!

It's not easy transitioning from the college leagues to pro sports. Tim Tebow is the perfect example of someone who excelled in the college ranks but hasn't quite fit into the NFL. Maybe Michael Sam will excel in the NFL or maybe he'll just be a bust like other college football players. In the end if the guy makes the transition and plays well that's all that counts. Whether a player is gay or ultra religious it doesn't matter; how you playing the field that's the most important thing.

Best of luck to Michael Sam, Jeff Fisher and the St. Louis Rams - congratulations

[Auggie]

13. He should make the team

[iandhr]

14. I think Goldwater himself said

"It doesn't matter if you are straight. It matters if you can shoot straight"

[Jack Rabbit]

15. I think Sam will be hit in the NFL

If I assess the man right, not only is he a good player, but he wants to be an even better one. I'll take a dozen players like that and let somebody else take the prima donna.

[ccjlld]

16. Work at Mizzou

Live in Columbia, and have watched this kid for 4 years. He has gotten better every year, but this last season, when he came out to his team mates, he really seemed to turn it up several notches. I think their support set him free in a way.

I am very proud of my University and his classmates and team mates for supporting him they way they have. He is a "True Son" and always will be.

A very large Mizzou alumni contingent exists in St. Louis, they are excited about having him there and they will love him!

I think Michael Sam will make a bigger impact than anyone can imagine.

[Auggie]

17. +1

[AAO]

18. If Sam never plays a down in the NFL, he's made the NFL, pro sports, and

the world in general a better place. He's a great role model - even for most adults.

[rpannier]

19. I'm curious what role he has in mind for Sam because the Rams seem a bad fit

It's a good choice since he played college football in Missouri. It makes the transition easier for him and the team drafting him
But from a purely football standpoint he doesn't really seem to fill any needs the Rams have
Sam is a good pass rusher but is not a strong defensive player against the rush, which would make him a situational 3rd down defensive player.
The Rams have Chris Long and Robert Quinn; both much better defensive players than Sam at this point
Teams like the Bears, Ravens, Giants and probably Dallas would have had better use for his ability and he would get more playing time to improve his game.
While it's historic that he's been drafted, it would be disappointing if he got cut and was considered a bust by the public because he didn't make a team that he likely wouldn't make gay or straight.
On the other hand, Fischer is considered by his peers to be one of the best (if not the best) head football coaches in the NFL (voted by all but one coach in 2010 as the best coach in the NFL)
So, he has to have a plan

As I said, I'm curious

[ProfessorGAC]

20. The Bears Did A Lot Of Bolstering The D Line Already

I don't think Sam is fast enough to play OLB in a 4-3, so i don't think the Bears were a good fit either.

And, since Trestman is a hard core offensive guy, the jury is still out on the defensive scheme. So, other than some big guy to clog the middle, knowing the fit for the Bears is a hard thing to figure out.

Fisher will figure something out. Pretty clever guy.

[rpannier]

23. Good point I hadn't thought of

He's not a great fit for the 4-3

Thanks

[riqster]

21. Special teams at first, probably.

The kid is smart and quick, knows how to hit, and is technically sound.

Plus he's young and can learn the OLB position from the veterans, building for the long haul.

[Auggie]

22. Exactly