Gay NFL Player Coming Out of the Closet?

Rumors are what they are so this news as broke by CBS Sports.com writer Mike Freeman Monday is something worth paying attention to, but should also be taken with a grain of salt. In case you have not heard, there is a player currently playing in the NFL that is supposedly considering publicly announcing his sexual orientation to the world.



This is one of those things where it is completely understandable that a person would be just a little apprehensive about making the big announcement. If the worst that would happen would be shocked disbelief like in the above clip from the USA show Necessary Roughness it would not be so bad (I'm assuming).

It's those that would/could react in a more aggressive manner that is likely alarming to those that are hiding their sexuality in a male/testosterone infused society. If you believe what a lot of guys say in the media these days the problem would not be in the locker room so much, but with the fans.

Fans have become brutal in recent years. Social media has given too many the "courage" to say all sorts of things to a guy that could squash them with his pinkie if the words were said in person. Behavior at games has been going downhill as well.

There are way too many stories about serious fights breaking out between fans in the stands or in parking lots over the last couple of seasons. Shootings and stabbings are not uncommon anymore either. People simply don't care about the consequences that such actions have.

Case in point--remember last season when London Fletcher's family was accosted at a game in Cleveland? Just because these folks were wanting to support their family member and wear his jersey fans became belligerent and aggressive towards them. To make the matter even more absurd--the only people arrested where Fletcher's family members!

Now imagine how folks like that would treat the family of the first openly gay player in the NFL?

The person that does do it first will be easily one of the bravest individuals that I've ever heard of. Locker rooms may largely be supportive, but there are going to be players that have an issue with it (San Francisco's Chris Culliver is proof of that).

Fans do not have that common bond though so while it may not be too bad for the player, his friends and family might be relocated to watching games from the safe confines of home (or a private luxury box if he makes enough...whoever he is...)



[I tried to find the complete scene but I couldn't, but you can get the gist of where this is going.]