RuntheDamnBall

It's unreal what some of these guys have dealt with. Also, that Vince Lombardi story is fascinating and for me just adds to the guy's greatness.

http://m.si.com/3861060/8-nfl-officials-reactions-to-sam-announcement/ And here is why this is somewhat of a big deal. I think publicly everyone will be welcoming, because to not do so is outs you as a bigot. But the teams will be approaching this from a risk management perspective and it will be viewed as a risk for no other reason than that Sam is the first. If teams can ignore him in the draft and stand behind the claim of evaluation on football merits, you can rest assured that some will. It's in fact the safest way for them to avoid the issue.

Maybe he disagrees with the lifestyle but is a brand consultant for companies that are hot with the gays? I've learned here to not second-guess someone's expertise.

Eh, well, I was working toward a double-entendre that I thought better of and abridged, so case dismissed!

It was a joke. We're in agreement.

Something something about cheerleaders, hands and pom-poms?

It sounds more like people are either attacking the player, commending the player, or acknowledging what's a fairly sizable moment in sports. In any case, yes, I do long for the day where it's not a topic of conversation and anyone straight, gay, black, white, Asian, etc can compete without being judged for anything other than their talent. At the moment, it's enough of a topic of conversation for people to discuss...

I'm sure his agent is thrilled that he'll probably be dropping a round in the draft and ready for all sorts of lucrative gay-oriented endorsements. Are you serious? You obviously aren't seeing the kinds of questions that scouts are asking players, then.

Much will be said about the man but he has a pretty decorated record in the toughest conference in college, and he is defusing a lot of prospective attacks by doing this before the draft - while certainly putting himself in the bullseye for others. He also lets teams know where he stands - as teams will do with him. His will be a story to follow. If he drops I do hope the Bills do the right thing and take him for his talent. Think about it this way - if he didn't do it, and let the rumors fly, is that better? It won't get people to stop talking about it, but ultimately if he plays well and is already out, it will be a footnote to a good football career. If he doesn't play well and he's closeted, you get all the kind of stuff that followed Kordell and other guys (whether they were gay or not).

Sounds like just what we need: a LB from the Patriots, that gets gouged when he drops back into coverage against the Patriots. Perhaps he could cheapshot somebody after missing the tackle and tack another 15 yards on. If that is not a true Buffalo Bill, who is?

It is sort of strange that you discuss the problem of "dressing QBs off the street" and then in the next sentence name one of the all time best QBs to ever come "off the street." I won't disagree that EJ had some rough outings but he also appeared to learn from them, which for me is the one barometer we have to work with. If he can't stay healthy that's another matter and I am sure that Whaley's front office is doing its homework on that. The "real competition" thing - meh. I want this team believing in its QB and giving him enough reps to sink or swim.

Where we turnover the cast, coach, QB, and hope for a different result but don't get one? I hope we at least get someone as funny as Bill Murray.

People also said Eli Manning needed time to figure it out. You can't always look to the past to predict the present. Each of these guys is in a unique scenario of coaching staff, team mentality and philosophy, available weapons and protection, and development (to say nothing of the defensive strengths of the team around them a la Wilson, Flacco, even Brady once upon a time).

The attitude could lead to his next suspension and this is a kid that Belicheck has issues with -- buyer beware.

Well, one wishes his had been scrutinized a little bit further.

Kent Hull, Howard Ballard, John Davis, Mark Kelso, Keith McKeller and Steve Tasker were all 9th round picks or later. Basically UDFAs in today's world. All starters on 4x Super Bowl teams.

Those are strong accusations - though not necessarily unfounded, Badol.

Or even unanimous-like.

Did they have great drafts, or do they have a coach that knows how to use his players? I think it's a combo. Also, lots of pass interference.

I'd take Bridgewater. I'd be tantalized by the prospect of JM, but I do have a strong feeling that the kid is going to be a coach killer. Pettine will find out soon enough. Bortles and James is flavor of the month and probably belongs on a team that takes guys named Blake or Blaine.

Can I vote for "they're all idiots?"

OK.

I am sorry, I should have been clearer. My point is that it doesn't mean that bullying isn't going on in the league, not specifically this situation. And I feel that what Martin has done actually does a disservice to those players who are being legitimately bullied, whether it's into spending tens of thousands of dollars on "voluntary" team functions or into playing with injury, etc etc. We had the choice of believing it and looking at the Dolphins' move as a confirmation of what was happening, or of being skeptical. It turns out that the latter was probably the right approach. I suppose that an angel gets its wings every time a certain kind of person gets told they were right around here.

Kind of like how "outlaw country" was a response to the overproduced Nashville sound of the time...

We are hearing allegations that WEO was bullied. Several posters have been suspended without pay.