Michael Sam Discussion

[BeerOClock]

This first part is wrong.

After drafting Sam, Fisher said, "In a world of diversity that we live in, I'm honored to be a part of this."

Demoff said, “It was a reminder of the power of the NFL, and how we could use the power for something good.”

Fisher brought in gay activist Wade Davis to address the team and organization on the issue of being gay in the NFL.

So of course it's about football. But it's about more than that, even to the Rams. They've said as much.

My first part is absolutely, 100% correct.

I said: "Michael Sam should be evaluated, selected and treated like any other NFL prospective player and not unfairly judged because he happens to be gay. This is fair and what has been asked of the team, fans and press."

Every action and every word that both Fisher and Demoff are saying is "they are honored to not unfairly judge Sam because he happens to be gay. It is a reminder of the power of the NFL to not unfairly judge Sam because happens to be gay." In other words, exactly as I said, "this is what has been asked of the the team, fans and press." Fisher and Demoff are saying that they are, with good feelings and intentions, meeting this responsibility. Nothing more.

You are saying that the Rams are trying to advance the gay agenda by drafting Sam--pure bullsh*t. Demoff and Fisher are trying to win football games, not forward a social agenda. Michael Sam was a value in Round #7, Fisher and Demoff consciously judged Sam fairly and choose him. Nothing more. It's YOU and YOUR AGENDA that's making Fisher and Demoff's statements into more than this. If Sam wasn't a value in Round #7, he wouldn't have been chosen.

 

[Prime Time]

League says it didn’t know about Michael Sam documentary
Posted by Mike Florio on May 16, 2014

Getty Images

The NFL knew about the planned Michael Sam documentary before he was drafted. Unless it didn’t.

In response to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the league knew about the project before the Rams drafted Sam but failed to share that information with the Rams or any other team, the NFL says that it did not know Sam had struck a deal with Oprah Winfrey.

“The league was not aware there was an agreement with the Oprah network,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told PFT via email. “We learned of this in the days after the draft.”

McCarthy added that the league has not signed off on the project, and that the NFL hasn’t granted permission to the OWN network to use team names or logos.

So unless the footage consists of Sam away from the workplace, there possibly won’t be a documentary at all.

 

[A55VA6]

Oprah Winfrey Network announce the documentary is being postponed.

 

[-X-]

“The league was not aware there was an agreement with the Oprah network,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told PFT via email. “We learned of this in the days after the draft.”

McCarthy added that the league has not signed off on the project, and that the NFL hasn’t granted permission to the OWN network to use team names or logos.

So unless the footage consists of Sam away from the workplace, there possibly won’t be a documentary at all.

Nobody really thought this thing through, did they?

 

[RhodyRams]

Mean while, back at the ranch, Michael Sam uses google to find a new agent !!!!

 

[Selassie I]

The Shield will drop the hammer if you try and use their shit now. Hahahahahahaha

Paulie's videos have been jacked,,, Oprah can get in fucking line.

 

[RamBill]

Michael Sam series postponed
Updated: May 16, 2014, 7:43 PM ET
By Darren Rovell | ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10944070/michael-sam-documentary-oprah-winfrey-network-postponed

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and Michael Sam's representation announced Friday evening that it was postponing its documentary series with the openly gay football player.

"After careful consideration and discussion with the St. Louis Rams. 'The Untitled Michael Sam Project' has been postponed, allowing Michael the best opportunity to achieve his dreams of making the team," said OWN president Erik Logan, in a statement. "OWN is about elevating and empowering people to achieve their best. It's clear that we, along with the world, recognize the opportunity that Michael has in this moment. We will continue to support him in his journey to earn a spot playing for the Rams."

The statement also included a comment from Sam's agent Cameron Weiss, who met with the Rams in person on Friday.

"After today's meeting with the Rams, we felt it is best to postpone the project," Weiss said. "This will allow for Michael to have total focus on football, and will ensure no distractions to his teammates. Everybody involved remains committed to project and understands its historical importance as well as its positive message."

OWN announced on Wednesday that it acquired the rights to follow Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team. But the Rams, who picked him in the seventh round, and the NFL said that they were unaware of the project prior to its announcement.

"We learned of this in the days after the Draft," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. McCarthy said OWN had also not signed any agreement that would allow the network to use league footage or any of its trademarks.

Sources told ESPN.com that the plan was to follow Sam's personal life as he tried to make the Rams, dividing the content into six to eight segments.

The Rams have yet to sign Sam to a contract.

 

[Stranger]

Good.

 

[RamBill]

2nd Update: Oprah network postponing Sam docu-series
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_4daae0d9-a38a-50be-8c7a-1e1d946e9d4a.html

The Oprah Winfrey Network is postponing production of it's planned docu-series on Michael Sam, the network announced Friday evening. The decision capped a day full of discussions with the Rams and league denials that it knew in advance of the draft that a "docu-series" was being planned.

Reports to the contrary, the NFL said it was not aware an agreement existed between Sam and the Oprah Winfrey Network for a docu-series before Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams.

"We learned of this in the days after the draft," NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy said Friday via e-mail. "As to having signed off on the project or granting rights or logos. . . .We have not signed such an agreement."

Sam, an all-American defensive end from the University of Missouri, is the first openly-gay player drafted in NFL history.

A camera crew from the Oprah network was at Rams Park on Tuesday for Sam's introductory news conference. The crew also was present Friday, for a Rams rookie practice, but got no special access either day.

On Thursday, one of Sam's agents _ Cameron Weiss _ said in a local radio interview that the NFL did know about the docu-series.

"We had communicated to the league office what our plans were," Weiss said. "They were aware of it. My partner and I. . .(Sam's) co-agent, are not going to go around communicating to all 32 teams what's going on. It's not our place, especially when no deal was signed.

"It was signed in the days immediately proceeding the draft. With the league having knowledge of it, we were comfortable."

(The co-agent is Joe Barkett.)

Weiss made those comments on The Drive Home show on CBS Sports Radio, 920-AM. Post-Dispatch columnists Joe Strauss and Bryan Burwell host the show along with Bob Ramsey.

A league official told the Post-Dispatch Friday that the league is aware of those comments, adding: "We are saying the agent is not correct."

Weiss did not respond to a phone message left Friday by the Post-Dispatch.

 

[brokeu91]

That's smart of him. I think he was starting to get some backlash from this.

The one thing I wonder though, does this mean we are doing "Hard Knocks"? I say this because maybe the NFL people told him we can't have two shows filming this at the same time

 

[RhodyRams]

now lets get BACK TO FOOTBALL

 

[RhodyRams]

That's smart of him. I think he was starting to get some backlash from this.

The one thing I wonder though, does this mean we are doing "Hard Knocks"? I say this because maybe the NFL people told him we can't have two shows filming this at the same time

That a great question

 

[Ramhusker]

Somebody lied. I'd imagine JFF and or Snead and Demoff just saved MS's chances to make the roster. Good luck to the kid, but I'm not so sure I like his agents. Then again, the NFL may be the ones lying.

 

[brokeu91]

Good.

 

[Ramhusker]

That a great question

That could very well be what's happening. The NFL certainly doesn't want somebody else stealing their exclusive. But this would still be somewhat of a distraction but maybe not as much.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Good! It's football time for MS.

 

[-X-]

That's smart of him. I think he was starting to get some backlash from this.

The one thing I wonder though, does this mean we are doing "Hard Knocks"? I say this because maybe the NFL people told him we can't have two shows filming this at the same time

I think they're more protective of the licensing and are asking a hefty price to allow OWN to use them in their docudrama.
They don't let ANYONE use the teams' logos, and Oprah is no exception.

 

[Dodgersrf]

It sounds like he's getting some good advice.

Good for him.

 

[BeerOClock]

Who knows what caused this major shift in directions. My guess, like the X-man, is the NFL was not going to allow them to use anything that is NFL trademarked for OWN profit without kicking in the big bucks. No Rams uniforms, no other Ram players---pretty tough for OWN to garner the dynamics they were looking for. Just my guess, though.

If it was Michael Sam pulling the plug on this because he really wants to play football and not be a social media icon, then I profoundly tip my hat to him and give him my utmost support towards him making the team.

 

[V3]

Wonder how long this postponement is going to last?