All eyes on Sam at Missouri Pro Day

Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Michael Sam certainly draws a crowd.

Scouts from more than 30 NFL teams, fans and media packed Missouri’s training facilities Thursday to watch the former Tigers defensive end and 14 of his former teammates at the school’s annual pro day.

A little over a month since Sam announced his desire to become the first openly gay NFL player, he lifted 225 pounds 19 times, ran the 40-yard dash in an unofficial time of 4.69 seconds and jumped 30 inches — all improvements from his statistics at the NFL combine last month. He also raised eyebrows after tweaking his right hamstring during the run.

“Just a little sore,” his agent Joe Barkett said.

With television cameras following his every move, the 6-2, 263-pound Sam stretched while teammates performed the 3-cone and short shuttle drills, and returned for the vertical jump and linebacker workouts.

One of his fans in attendance was Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, who left Missouri last year.

Richardson wished him the best in the NFL but said the draft hopeful could wind up hearing some homophobic jokes in the pros.

“It is what it is,” Richardson said. “You hear every kind of joke — racist jokes, everything in the NFL locker room. That’s what happens when you’re a family. Nothing bothers you. Only those people can talk about you. No one else outside the locker room.”

Sam is pegged to be picked in the lower rounds of the NFL draft.

The workout drew scouts from every team except the Redskins, according to the NFL Network.