Brendon Ayanbadejo: Four NFL Players may come out

[joeybee12]

Brendon Ayanbadejo, a highly visible defender of gay rights and same-sex marriage, told the Baltimore Sun that four current NFL players are considering coming out as gay.

"I think it will happen sooner than you think. We're in talks with a handful of players who are considering it. There are up to four players being talked to right now and they're trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together.

"I think it will happen sooner than you think," Ayanbadejo told the newspaper. "We're in talks with a handful of players who are considering it. There are up to four players being talked to right now, and they're trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together. It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy. It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out.

"Of course, there would be backlash. If they could share the backlash, it would be more positive. It's cool. It's exciting. We're in talks with a few guys who are considering it. The NFL and organizations are already being proactive and open if a player does it and if something negative happens. We'll see what happens."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9137573/brendon-ayanbadejo-says-four-players-considering-coming-gay

[fizzgig]

1. k&r

[MrSlayer]

2. That would be incredibly brave.

Considering the general Neanderthal mentality and super fundy Christian culture that is so prevalent in the NFL.

Sterling Sharpe once said that if anyone came out as gay on his team, his teammates would cripple the guy in practice the next day. Because if one guy is gay then they'd all be considered gay and they can't have that in the uber macho world of football.

Kind of ironic considering how often these guys slap each other on the ass.

It's long past the time for gay athletes to be free to be who they are. And while it will be ugly at first, people will get over it.

Best to those guys.

[theHandpuppet]

3. Thanks for posting this

Yep, it would be a brave move but in the face of what just happened at Rutgers, all the more important that some of our high-profile professional athletes come out.

[HillWilliam]

4. What would be cool is

if everyone said, "Wait! Wut? Oh, so they're gay. Let's play foo'ball!!"

Acceptance of an already-known fact -- that is, there are gay NFL players -- would be cool in and of itself.

I know the wackogelicals wouldn't let it rest at just that. They'll howl about boycotts, picket, raise a stink, write misspelled letters, and send death threats like they always do while the NFL won't feel a dime's loss at the bottom line. There will be a couple weeks' worth of hoo-raw, no doubt. In the end, the wackos will lose -- again. They're wrong. They know they're wrong. Everyone knows they're wrong. They'll never change and that's how it is.

To the players: come on out, guys. Join your out-family. There's fresh air and sunshine, camaraderie and support out here.

K&R

[Fearless]

5. +1

[Brickbat]

6. Bring the day!