Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Missouri defensive end Michael Sam, who is headed to the NFL Draft, came out of the closet and announced that he was gay opening the door for him to be the first openly gay NFL player. There was some mixed reaction and one of the strongest reactions came from former NFL wide receiver Patrick Crayton.

Here are his tweets, he sounds against it at first but goes on to attempt to explain he believed the timing and benefits didn’t make sense for Sam.

“@AdamSchefter: Missouri DE Michael Sam, a projected mid-round pick, said today he’s gay. Story now on ESPN2.” Oh wow!!! There goes the NFL!

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

“@AdamSchefter: Missouri DE Michael Sam, a projected mid-round pick, said today he’s gay. Story now on ESPN2.” trying to figure why annonce

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

“@AdamSchefter: Missouri DE Michael Sam, a projected mid-round pick, said today he’s gay. Story now on ESPN2.” Stay in the closet and keep

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

“@AdamSchefter: Missouri DE Michael Sam, a projected mid-round pick, said today he’s gay. Story now on ESPN2.” To urself!!!

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

“@jknoxville: @AdamSchefter how is this a football issue?” It’s not and shouldn’t even have come out!!! Stop announcing ur serial choice

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

“@jknoxville: @AdamSchefter how is this a football issue?” HeterosexualHeterosexuals aren’t walking around saying I’m straight!!!

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

@justin_cohen and called courageous for announcing their sexual choice!!!

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

He tried to spin it…

@ahammsportsgeek so now I’m not supportive because I asked why he made the announcement? Man please!!!

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

@justin_cohen I wont. I’m not against that man being gay. It’s his choice. I’m simply saying I don’t understand why people are glorified

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

And clarify:

Let me break it down for everyone. A lot of people are mad because I said there goes the nFL. I say that because now this young man is

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

To get all the wrong attention for his sexual choice and a lot of players and execs will get asked about playing with a gay guy and they are

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

Going to have to lie about how they really feel. This young man will come in with notoriety for announcing his sexual choice more then his

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

Ability to play the game he loves!!! This will be a major thing in football for yrs to come. So for all u guys cussing at me and calling me

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

A bigot, ass hole or whatever, know where TF I'm coming from before u do what u hate others to do when a situation like this is announced!!

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

Now go enjoy ur life or u can make urself feel better by calling me names. But yet if it happens to u, u can't handle it!!!

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014

Of course he is referring the people calling him names, who are really no better than what they think of Crayton.

@thebeetrain what did I say that made me a bigot? I simply said why make this announcement! U can kiss my ass twitter thug!!

— patrick crayton (@pcrayton12) February 10, 2014