NFL great Tony Dungy caught backlash over comments he made regarding the first openly gay NFL player, Michael Sam.
In an interview with the Tampa Bay Tribune, Dungy said, “I wouldn’t have taken him. Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it. It’s not going to be totally smooth. Things happen.”
Dungy quickly caught backlash on Twitter from individuals who are likely the least qualified to discuss football matters. Some called for Dungy to be fired from NBC and viewed his stance as homophobic. But from a pure football standpoint, Dungy was completely right.
When Sam is viewed only by his talent on the football field, he probably isn’t worth the distraction that will be created by the media who will watch his every step during his first year.
The people who spoke out against Dungy should check Sam’s results at the NFL combine. He was one of the worst performing defensive lineman in the draft.
Sam was the lowest defensive lineman to bench press with only 17 reps. In 2013, a punter, Pat O’Donnell, had 23 reps. Also, Sam only ran a 4.91 in the 40-yard dash. Those numbers are pitiful for a potential defensive lineman who will need to chase speedy running backs and quarterbacks. In comparison, Greg Robinson, a 335-pound offensive lineman, ran a 4.84 time in the 40-yard dash. Robinson outweighs Sam by nearly 100 pounds.
Drafting Sam is a gamble. The media frenzy could be a distraction and his lack of skills may not be worth taking a chance on. Every game, every player and coach for the St. Louis Rams will have to discuss Sam. And if he doesn’t play well, it becomes a bigger problem that a seasoned NFL coach would hate to deal with.
Sam’s story is similar to former NFL player Tim Tebow. Tebow came into the league with tons of media attention, but he lacked the overall skills to play quarterback. Because the media followed his every move, he became a locker-room distraction. The New England Patriots eventually cut Tebow last year because his middling talent wasn’t worth the distracting attention from the media.
Some wondered why Dungy stood by Michael Vick after the dog fighting accusations and encouraged teams to give him a second chance. The difference between Vick, Sam and Tebow is that Vick’s talent was worth the gamble. And it paid off for the Philadelphia Eagles, who signed Vick after his prison stint and pushed him to achieve career numbers.
Those who suggest that Dungy is homophobic are uninformed about the game of football. And that’s the scary part. Sam will not be allowed to grow as a player because every objection and quote against his talent will be viewed as homophobic.
If Sam had the skills of Jadeveon Clowney, there isn’t a team in the NFL that would worry about the media frenzy. But Sam is a project and will likely have to play several years before he gets adjusted to the speed and power of the NFL. His story calls for a developing player to be great today. That’s unlikely to happen.
Unfortunately, Dungy, who often made great decisions as a head coach, has to face backlash for making a knowledgeable assessment about a football player who may not be ready for the pressure that comes with the limelight.
