Tony Dungy credits Michael Sam for preseason play
By Sam Richmond
Former NFL coach and current broadcaster Tony Dungy spoke about St.Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam on Wednesday, but don’t expect any controversy this time around. All Dungy did was praise Sam for his play during his first preseason, via Gary Mihoches of USA Today.
"“From what I’ve seen, he’s played very well in the preseason, got after the quarterback and rushed the passer, and that’s what they got him for. And it looks like he’s doing his job really well,” Dungy said Wednesday on a teleconference hosted by NBC Sports to promote its Sunday “Football Night in America” pre-game show."
Of course, Dungy made news earlier this summer for saying that he wouldn’t draft Sam, who is the NFL’s first openly gay player, because he viewed the defender’s presence as as “distraction.”
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From Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune:
"“I wouldn’t have taken him,’’ said former Bucs and Colts coach Tony Dungy, now an analyst for NBC. “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 will happen.’’"
It’s good to see Dungy solely speak about Sam, who has three sacks this preseason, from a football perspective. There really have been no distractions in regards to Sam’s presence in St.Louis except media-created ones from Dungy and ESPN, who reported on Sam’s showering habits on Tuesday.
The Rams drafted Sam out of Missouri in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft.