Tag Archives: football

Via Yahoo Sports: The NFL took deflate-gate very seriously, hammering the New England Patriots with unheard of punishment in the matter of deflated footballs. The league announced that quarterback Tom Brady was suspended four games, the team was fined $1 million and will lose its 2016 first-round draft pick and a fourth-round pick in 2017. The league has been considering …

Via the Washington Post: This fall, GQ magazine found room for an athlete on its annual list of celebrities who have left a mark on pop culture. This isn’t any athlete, though. It’s Michael Sam, the first openly gay player taken in the NFL draft last spring. Sam joins “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt, comedian Dave Chappelle, actors …

“I and others in my organization received death threats over the phone Saturday and early Sunday. We took them very seriously and I did not want to risk anyone’s life to send a message. Whether gay radical activists or others made these threats is not clear yet. What is clear is that there are those who oppose us so vehemently …

Via Yahoo Sports: The St. Louis Rams named the 10 players they signed to their practice squad. Michael Sam was not one of them. The team made Sam one of its final cuts on Saturday and met with him the following day, but it apparently doesn’t have interest at this time in signing Sam. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said …

USA Today reports: Two of the most scrutinized rookies crossed paths in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns preseason game when Sam, the seventh-round defensive end, sacked the Browns quarterback. Then, the former Missouri star, who is attempting to become the league’s first openly gay player, gave Manziel a dose of his own medicine, …

We’ve reached a settlement with the Vikings. Terms I can disclose as follows. — Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) August 19, 2014 1. They will donate a substantial amount to five charities, several MN local, over the next five years. — Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) August 19, 2014 2. They are implementing enhanced training within the entire organization, and are committed to a …

Judging by Twitter, many of the nation’s offices have suspended work to watch the USA vs Germany match. If you’re among those folks, here’s an open thread to weigh in, at least on the hotness of the players. UPDATE: The USA has lost.

Via ABC News: Native Americans are sending a loud message to the Washington Redskins. A northern California tribe paid for a commercial to air in seven major U.S. cities during halftime of Tuesday’s NBA Finals game, their latest plea for the NFL team to change its “racist” name and mascot. “In my opinion, the ‘r’ word is just as derogatory …

“Millions of American families were caught off-guard by the disturbing televised image of black football player Michael Sam and his ‘boyfriend,’ Vito Cammisano, mouth kissing after the St. Louis Rams drafted Sam. The liberal press is celebrating Sam for being the first openly gay player in the NFL. The world has become one upside-down place! Christians are being slammed while …

Apparently in reaction to criticism from the St. Louis Rams, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network has put the Michael Sam documentary on hold. “After careful consideration and discussion with the St. Louis Rams, the untitled Michael Sam project has been postponed, allowing Michael the best opportunity to achieve his dream of making the team,” said Erik Logan, president of OWN. “OWN …

CBS Sports reports: Miami Dolphins defensive back Don Jones has been fined an undisclosed amount by the team following an incident on Saturday where he sent out a tweet critical of Michael Sam. Jones has also been banned from team activities until he undergoes sensitivity training. After St. Louis selected the openly gay Sam with the 249th overall pick in …

Visa tonight announced it has signed an endorsement deal with Michael Sam. The first ad in the campaign has launched on YouTube as the first round of the NFL draft is underway in New York City. In his first spot, Sam, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year out of Missouri, is shown working out while a voiceover urges the …

The Christian Post reports: Jack Burkman, head of the Washington, D.C. lobbying firm J.M. Burkman & Assoc. who is seeking to ban gays from the NFL, says he intends to build a national coalition to boycott any football franchise that picks openly gay football player Michael Sam in the NFL Draft, which starts Thursday at Radio City Music Hall in …

The Baltimore Sun reports: As former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam continues his preparations for the NFL draft, several teams have maintained contact with the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The Ravens are among the teams that have displayed the most interest in Sam since the NFL scouting combine along with the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Indianapolis …

Outsports reports that NCAA defensive end Mitch Eby came out to his Chapman University teammates earlier this month. Eby first told his two roommates, both also players, then opened up to his head coach, who agreed to allow Eby to address the full team. An excerpt from his speech: “I came up here today to talk to you guys about …

“When I came out last month, I did it with the confidence that my Mizzou ‘family’ would always be there for me. To put it mildly, the love and acceptance I felt was amazing. The day after the announcement, my name was spelled out in the stadium; fraternities hung #StandWithSam banners; then when I went to the basketball game to …

Andy Towle provides the transcript: “I don’t nor do I condemn, but I’ve had a friend, family members… Everyone out there, you’ve had someone of homosexuality in your family — and someone whose on drugs and alcohol. How can I judge them? It’s up to me to give him love, to give him support, to just be there for him. …

“Our policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard. We are following the issue in Arizona and will continue to do so should the bill be signed into law, but will decline further comment at this time.” – NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, stopping short of calling for …