Not really. I would want to balance the two.
Not really. You continually talk about drafting him to entice fans, because of your morals/ethics, etc while basically ignoring the potential football negatives.
And you talk about it distracting the team?
I happen to believe that this would be no negative distraction at all.
Then I question that you are an active football fan, or at least an active football fan of a franchise other than New England. I've got to watch first hand, REPEATEDLY, what distractions can do to a football team. Whether it was a few years back with Albert Haynesworth, or Donovan McNabb, or recently with RG3's knee. Players constantly being bombarded with distracting, non-football relevant questions. The Coach constantly being steered to talk about those things during press conferences. A media continually fueling the controversies ruining fan morale. It's a horrible cycle that I've seen play out again and again. Look at comments coming out from the Jet's when Tebow was there when ESPN basically was camped out at their complex due to a 2nd string QB? Question why when people talk about the "patriot way" part of that is Bellicheck masterfully controlling the media and the exposure of his players. Ask yourself why the notion of "bulletin board material" exists within the NFL, or why and who anonymous player sources are who start talking about news stories to the media.
This guy is rated as a 3rd to 5th round selection...hardly a star or someone normally getting attention. Yet already he's getting MAJOR coverage by both the sports media AND the regular media. If you don't think there's going to be a madhouse of media attention over this guy from the day he's drafted through training camp and on yo'ure kidding yourself. And teams have shown time and time again that generally, save for the most stable or organizations, they don't like such attention because it's incredibly difficult to manage in a way that doesn't negatively affect the team.
Mind you, I'm not bothering to respond to your attempt to strawman may argument into a distraction BECAUSE of his sexuality because I said repeatedly that I don't think THAT distraction itself will be that much of a problem.
Also, the massive pluses for community support (remember, the NFL has huge political tax exemptions and stadium perks from local/state/national politicians...it is VERY important that they have a good image) are incalculable.
Like I said...marketting and political reasonings.
Additionally, I would feel better about myself and sleep better at night knowing I helped this cause move forward.
Like I said....marketting and political reasonings.
Any NFL G.M. is probably already a millionaire...they don't need to sacrifice their morals/ethics to feed their families.
Like I said....marketting and political reasonings.
And if drafting this guy gets me fired...so be it.
I could DEFINITELY live with that.
Like I said....marketting and political reasonings. (now can we stop with your attempt to suggest that wouldn't be your primary motivation)
If I was the GM of a team that I thought was stable enough in it's management structure, confident in how ownership will react, and comfortable with what I know about my lockerroom I'd potentially think about doing it. However, if I'm the GM of the Redskins I don't. If I'm the GM or any team where I'm brand new or where our coach is brand new, I don't do it. If I'm someone like the Jets I don't do it. There's enough other talent out there rated at the same level that is not going to come with the baggage of the extreme media attention this guy would bring.
That likely means he ends up being a steal for a solid team like New England, or perhaps Pittsburgh. In no way am I saying that it's unthinkable to draft him. Rather, the pool of potential draftees I think will simply be smaller than it would be if he wasn't gay OR this wouldn't garner the kind of attention it garners. And understandably so.
