Michael Sam wants NFL teams to know he’s thinking only about football.
Sam, the former Missouri defensive end who is poised to become the first openly gay player in NFL history, has turned down a wide variety of off-field opportunities. For now, all of Sam’s focus is on working out and preparing to be a professional football player. Sam’s advisor Howard Bragman told USA Today that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was among the invitations that Sam declined.
“We respectfully declined,” Bragman said. “As much fun as I would have had and he would have had going, it sends the wrong message. If he gets on a team and plays well, he’ll probably be invited next year. I don’t want people to think that he’s interested in anything other than getting ready for the draft.”
That’s a wise approach. Sam turned in a disappointing workout at the Scouting Combine, and he needs to look better at Missouri’s March 20 Pro Day. His focus is where it should be right now, on football.
