Sam glad to finally get back on field

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

Now it starts to get intense for Michael Sam and the rest of the St. Louis Rams rookies.

The first openly gay player drafted in the NFL is enthusiastic about the challenge. Twice on Tuesday, he mentioned how enjoyable it was being back on the field and trading wisecracks with teammates.

“I’m so excited to be back with the guys,” Sam said. “Football’s fun.”

Sam hopes there will be less attention about his sexual orientation, but added his focus has to be on making the team. He said he’s in the best shape of his life, dropping 13 pounds in the month since the last OTA workout, weighing in at 257 pounds.

“Feeling great,” he said. “It’s just where I want to be speed-wise, so I can run fast and make plays. I want to be as fast as I can.”

Sam declined to offer specifics about his 40-yard dash time, adding “I’m not worried about the combine.”

He didn’t have much to say about his experience at the ESPYS, where he received the Arthur Ashe Courage award. Sam got a hug from the Hall of Famer Jim Brown on his way to the stage, and teared up throughout his speech faltered at times.

“You know, it was a great award and I had a great time in LA,” Sam said. “But that’s over and I’m focusing on football now.”

Just as they did after the draft and during OTAs, teammates didn’t seem to care that Sam was gay. Offensive lineman Demetrius Rhaney, taken the pick after the Rams created a stir by selecting Sam, had only compliments.

“He’s a football player, he’s not a bother,” Rhaney said. “He’s laid-back, funny, jokes a lot. Pretty good.”

Former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, who said earlier this week that he “wouldn’t want to deal with drafting Michael Sam,” has released a statement clarifying his comments, which had drawn a great deal of criticism.

“On Monday afternoon while on vacation with my family, I was quite surprised to read excerpts from an interview I gave several weeks ago related to this year’s NFL Draft, and I feel compelled to clarify those remarks,” Dungy’s statement read.

“I was asked whether I would have drafted Michael Sam and I answered that I would not have drafted him. I gave my honest answer, which is that I felt drafting him would bring much distraction to the team. At the time of my interview, the Oprah Winfrey reality show that was going to chronicle Michael’s first season had been announced.

“I was not asked whether or not Michael Sam deserves an opportunity to play in the NFL. He absolutely does. I was not asked whether his sexual orientation should play a part in the evaluation process. It should not. I was not asked whether I would have a problem having Michael Sam on my team. I would not.”

Dungy’s statement later said Sam’s sexual orientation would not be a distraction.

“I do, however, believe that the media attention that comes with it will be a distraction,” he said.