. >> i'm michael sam. i'm a football player. and i'm gay. >> that is missouri all american defensive end michael sam speaking to "the new york times" revealing what his teammates knew and accepted and his parents knew and accepted. he spoke to the times and told them why he went public. >> i want to own my truth. i didn't want anyone to break a story without me telling it. i want to tell it the way i want to tell it. >> now that he has, the reaction in the nfl where he is expected to be a mid to low round draft pick appears to defend on whether that action is by name or not. yesterday the league tweet wed admire michael sam's honesty and courage. michael is a football player. any player with ability and determination can succeed in the nfl. we look forward to welcoming and supporting michael sam in 2014. but on the other hand when allowed to remain anonymous, nfl coaches and executives sold "sports illustrated" a different story. one said that the league isn't ready in the coming decade or two, one doubted the maturity of player

and the "we" may not even include michael sam's own father. michael sam sr. who got the news about his own son a week before the world did was quoted by "the new york times" as saying he's old school, a man and a woman type of guy, and deacon jones is, quote, turning over in his grave. sam's father later alleged he was terribly misquoted by t"the time times", which stood by its report. the response to michael sam's revelation suggests that even in 2014, even as more lbgt americans step into the spotlight, coming out is still complicated. joining me now, jelani cobb, dory clark, author of "reinventing you," rinku sen, president and executive director of race forward, and wade davis, executive director of the you can play project. and from las vegas, dave zirin, the sports editor for "the nation" magazine. there's been a lot of positive reaction to michael sam coming out, but then you have the other side of it. you have that espn story, where a lot of people off the record, who work in the nfl in the front office were saying, you know what, we might have really

sam the football player instead of michael sam the gay football player. >> i really like how he said he's not afraid. i think that's the, the real point that he's trying to make to everyone that keeps asking him questions, how will you handle this, approach this? i'm not afraid. if someone calls me a name, i'm going to have a conversation with them. i'm not going to fight them. this is a good football player, take it back to what she. he's a football player. this was the sec defensive player of the year, co-defensive player of the year. the sec is considered the greatest college football conference and he was considered the greatest within that conference. he's already going to be considered a good football play but now with this element of who he is, michael sam comes from a family of eight brothers and steshs. >> goodness. >> two of those brothers and sisters are currently in jail, and have been in and out of the prison system since he was in eighth grade. one went missing, never found. another brother shot and killed. he says the adversity he's going through in his personal life i

it was the rock s-a-m for michael sam. we reached out to the mizzou athletic department to confirm the legitimacy of that picture. they confirm to us that that is the real deal. here's to mizzou fans and his teammates knowing and never caring. here's to the defying of expectations in a good way. best new thing in the world today. now it's time for "the last word" with lawrence o'donnell. thanks for being with us tonight. >>> tonight, chris christie's lawyers are now investigating don zimmer, the mayor of hoboken, whose accusations about the christie administration were first revealed by msnbc's steve kornacki on this network. steve will join me with his reaction to this new twist in the case. >> you've been served. >> a new round of subpoenas are expected today in the bridge scandal surrounding governor chris christie. >> as many as 12 subpoenas. >> somebody had asked if there are 12. i think it's more than that number. >> a lot of the people who were key aides and advisers to him are caught up in this. >> they're squeezin

deion sanders writes i applaud missouri de michael sam for the bravery. i pray he gets to play the team he loves. attorney general eric holder says that same-sex marriages will be recognized to the greatest extent possible under the law. the move affects how same-sex couples are treated in bankruptcy cases, prison visitation rights, survivor benefit, and the league right to refuse to testify to incriminate a spouse. >>> at the olympics the olympics strikes gold in a brand-new event while the u.s. continues to rack up medals on the slopes. adriana diaz takes a look at the sunday winners and what's ahead. good morning, adriana. >> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. this is the first time women's figure skating is an olympic event. the russia took the inaugural event. the 31-year-old wowing him for his performance. he got a congratulatory handshake from russian president vladimir putin. american ashley won saturday night. she'll go for the singles event in nine days. meanwhile jamie anderson has taken the second gold medal for team usa. the californian maki

chris cluey helped michael sam with his announcement. earlier i asked him what led everyone to believe the nfl was now ready for an openly gay player. >> i think it's strides we've made over the years, helping people become aware that there are gay players that play in the nfl and just trying to set the stage for someone like michael who feels comfortable enough in himself and his abilities to come out and say hey i'm a football player who also happens to be gay. >> well, sam is about to go through the most important interview of his life. why was it important for him to come out before the league as opposed to after he was drafted? >> this gives the story a chance to be beaten to death hopefully, and it won't be a story once the season starts. people will be talking about it during the draft, the combine and the otas but once we get to the season hopefully it is played out enough to where michael can focus on football and this way, it lets teams know that michael is gay, he is a football player and you know what? deal with it. this is s

i'm optimistic for michael sam. it's a wonderful story. i hope he gets a true chance and show what he can do on the field. >> could be different than jason collins who was at the end of his career in the nba. but this could be a struggle. >> why is it that we in the media brought the struggle to the story? there's no evidence that this is going to be a struggle -- >> getting into the league? >> why a struggle? why anymore so than for anybody else? the nfl teams, their whole goal is to get to the biggest media circus and the most distracting game of the entire season, the super bowl. and we are putting out there that some general manager's going worry about a couple cameras showing up at practice and asking a few questions? if a general manager and a coach cannot handle a gay player in the locker room, they should resign. not because of social justice issues, but if that can torpedo your season, you're not doing your job. >> do you think it will make a difference? >> image it will. and i think it's unfortunate. there are general managers wh

. >> i just wish you would see me as michael sam the football player and not michael sam the gay football player. >> axelrod: and the mystery of the disappearing moose. don dahler has been without with the researchers who want to know why. captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news." >> axelrod: good evening. i'm jim axelrod, and this is a western edition of the broadcast. he was public enemy number one, a modern-day al capone in the eyes of law enforcement in chicago. we're talking about a brutal mexican drug lord named joaquin guzman, known as "el chapo," or shorty. tonight, he is in a prison in mexico city. captured in a joint u.s. and mexican operation. the feds says guzman ran an international heroin and cocaine empire worth $1 billion. employing thousands of gang members in chicago to deal drugs. as carter evans tells us, his arrest ends a 13-year-long manhunt. >> reporter: shackled and surrounded, mexican authorities paraded the world's most notorious drug lord before news cameras. joaquin "el chapo" guzman was captured in a dramatic covert operation, led by the mexi

"we admire michael sam's honesty and courage. michael is a football player. any player with ability and determination can succeed in the nfl. we look forward to welcoming and supporting michael sam in 2014." i'm joined now by the president and ceo of glaad, sara kate ellis, former nfl player, advocacy group called you can play, wade davis is here. let me start with you because i understand you've actually been counseling michael sam about his decision to come out over the past few days. what did you tell him? what did he tell you? >> well, i think counseling is a strong word. michael sam doesn't need any counseling. he's a football player. he knew exactly what he wanted to do. he really just wanted to say, look, i'm ready to play football. i'm an nfl guy. i've played on the biggest stage in college. so, you know, let's change this conversation. so i can start to prepare. >> how big of a deal is this for the lgbt community? >> this is a groundbreaking deal. i think not only in the nfl but for the youth in our culture so that they get to see an openly gay man h

michael sam, a college footballer revealed his sexuality. >> michael sam may become one of the north america's significant athletes. certain to be drafted in the national football league, he'll be the first active player who is openly gay. he made the announcement in an interview with espn. >> this is something that i have known for a while, you know. this is, to me, it's telling another person that, "hey, i'm gay", it shouldn't be a big problem. >> he has the support of his college team-mates and the n.f.l. in a statement an official said: >> once he shows he one of the guys, play ball and have fun. >> for michael sam things may get tougher. the media blitz started. american football is renowned for its culture and antigay remarks. the young player could be in for a difficult future. >> this is a guy that came out, admitting that he's gay, knowing it could cause problems with his draft status and in the locker room in the n.f.l. once travelled. i'm not sure that everywhere will be in support of michael sam being openly gay. >> gay rights activists applauded the move and he is being

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it was the rock s-a-m for michael sam. we reached out to the mizzou athletic department to confirm the legitimacy of that picture. they confirm to us that that is the real deal. here's to mizzou fans and his >>> tonight, chris christie's lawyers are now investigating don zimmer, the mayor of hoboken, whose accusations about the christie administration were first revealed by msnbc's steve kornacki on this network. steve will join me with his reaction to this new twist in the case. >> you've been served. >> a new round of subpoenas are expected today in the bridge scandal surrounding governor chris christie. >> as many as 12 subpoenas. >> somebody had asked if there are 12. i think it's more than that number. >> a lot of the people who were key aides and advisers to him are caught up in this. >> they're squeezing these people. >> how worried should the christie camp be? >> i think they're clearly worried about wildstein in general, right? >> a tough rebuke of resigned port authority official david wildstein. remember that? >

sam openly, proud gay michael sam. >> yesterday, missouri's all-american defensive end michael sam, the sec's defensive player of the year and expected to be a third to fifth-round pick in the nfl draft tells the world he's gay. the best defensive player in college football's best conference only a third to fifth-round pick. really? that is shocking. and i guess that other thing is, too. michael sam would be the first openly gay player in the nfl, says he knows there will be problems and they've already started. several nfl officials telling "sports illustrated" it will hurt him on draft day because a gay player wouldn't be welcome in an nfl locker room. it would be uncomfortable because that's a man's world. you beat a woman and drag her down a flight of stairs pulling her hair out by the roots, you're the fourth guy taken in the nfl draft. you kill people while driving drunk, that guy is welcome. players caught in hotel rooms with illegal drugs and prostitu prostitutes, we know they're welcome. players accused of rape and pay the woman to go away. you lie to police, trying to cove

the only reason we're talking about michael sam, the only reason michael sam is on the cover of "sports illustrated" is because he's gay. not because he's a good football player. the only reason the first lady of the united states has publicly praising him, not because he's the second coming of lawrence taylor, it's because he's gay. the only reason michael sam's agent is saying he has fortune 500 companies banging down his door trying to pay michael sam all sorts of money to endorse their products isn't because he's going to be an all-pro nfl player, it's because he's gay. so to say that we should judge him on the football field, i mean, be careful what you wish for. people are judging him as a football player. my sense is, like howard, he is going to hook on with an nfl team, he's that good of a player, but, you know, he's a late round nfl pick and there's not too many late round nfl picks that you see on the cover of "sports illustrated" before they even get drafted. the only reason we're having this conversation is because michael sam is gay. it has nothing to do with his performanc

we need to talk about michael sam. he is gregariousa sense of humor, he's warm, he's engaging, 'he's going to be so successful. american is going to fall in love with his personality instead of looking at him as a gay football player. going forward super important and part of the reason because of who the man is. >> schieffer: why did he decide to do this, when you come right down to it? he told his teammates at missouri last year. they said, we already know. why did he find this was important to do it now? >> actually, bob, we were going to do it instead of sunday going to do it monday. it became very clear to us on saturday that media outlets were prepared to break this. he was about to be outed. and what was always important to michael is he come out in his terms, in his words, at his timetable so we moved it up. he wanted to tell his story and tell his truth. that's what's so important here. that he owned his story and the courage that goes with it. and that we found the kind of journalist allow him to tell his own

i wish you would see me as michael sam the football player, and instead of michael sam the gay football player. i want to do what i love to do and that is to play football. if the miami dolphins draft ed me, i would be excited to be part of that organization, but i am not afraid to go into that environment. i know how to handle myself and communicate with the teammates and communicate with the coaches and other staff and whoever i need to communicate with. i have been in locker rooms where all kinds of slurs have been said, you know, and i don't think that anyone means it. i think that the little naive and uneducated, but, you know, as time goes on, everyone will a adapt. and if someone wants to call me a name, i will have that conversation with that guy and hopefully not lead to anything else. and since i'm not an nfl active roster that is my only thought is to be on that roster, and that is my 100% focus on this. i'm not focusing on everything else but to earn my spot an nfl team. i love my fans and i love mizzou, and one of the best schools out in the nation, and after what they did

michael sam is expected to become the nfl's first openly gay player. the defensive end talked about his sexuality with espn's "outside the lines." >> i came to tell the world i'm an openly proud gay man. >> how does it feel to say those words to the world? >> it's a load off my chest. >> reporter: his decision to come out is bold. he's expected to be chosen in the early rounds of the nfl draft this may, entering a league with an extremely macho culture and a history of homophobic controversies. analysts say the team that drafts sam will face unusual challenges. >> he's bringing baggage into your locker room. so, when you think about michael sam, all of a sudden, can the players handle the media attention that they're going to get? >> reporter: current and former nfl players applauded sam's courage. hall of famer deion sanders tweeting michael sam is not the first gay player in the nfl. he's the first to come out. let's show him love like a family member. truth. and from carolina panthers deangelo williams, i could care less about a man's sexual prefere

how did michael sam perform? >> honestly, he did not perform very well compared to the competition that he has at his position. his 40-yard dash time well below average. his 17 represents on the bench press of 225 pounds, well below average. the other events maybe middle of the rod was best, vertical jump, broad jump. from a purely athletic standpoint, he did not distinguish himself from his competition at that position. >> did you say a 4-9-40. >> 491.40. once they reviewed, the official time was 491. clownie ran 45. >> we all know that 4-9 and that 40 is pretty slow. in your opinion, was he feeling added pressure? is that possibly what led to this so-so performance? well maybe this is an interesting tell, tony. on both of his 40-yard dash attempts, he false started on each and had to go back and do it. there's a 60-yard drill they have to go through. he slipped on that drill, as well. maybe the nerves were getting to him, because obviously we're missing a lot of eyes on him but this is the biggest job interview

michael sam made a public announcement that he is gay over the weekend. >> reporter: michael sam has the sports world buzzing. >> came to tell the world i am a proud gay man. >> reporter: he satop prospect in the draft in bay -- is a top prospect in the draft in may. he says coming out was not an easy decision. revealing his sexuality to his former teammates helped give him encouragement. >> load off my chest. i told my teammates this past august that i came out to my teammates teammates and they took it great. they supported me and i couldn't have asked for better teammates. >> reporter: reaction is pouring in. president obama said congratulations on leading the way. that is real sportsmanship. jason collins who went to stanford tweeted for the past two days i met with michael sam. he is a great young man who has known courage and leadership. he tweeted michael sam isn't the first gay player in the nfl, however he is the first to come out. and jonathan martin who left the nfl after alleging he was bullied by teammates said hats off to you michael sam that takes respect. michael sam

on this story, o michael sam coming out, and coming out before the michael draft, what will happen. >> on credentials alone, the kid can play football, he's projected to be a third round pick, but a mid round pick. it will be interesting to see how they project out because a lot of people are saying he's making a transition from defensive linemen to linebacker and some team scouts are going on the record now that the announcement has come out saying he might not even be drafted. but the telling point they're not attaching their names of what teams are saying that he won't be drafted. michael sam has attached his name to coming out, being an openly gay player but none of these team have come out saying he's fouling off the draft board because of this announcement. >> the fact that we're talking about this indicate that the nfl is a different beast in terms of the gay rights. >> you hear a lot of people will support him, but it's naive to think that everyone will support him. on the flip side, coming out from the new orleans saints, i don't want people to assume we're all homophobic. it

michael sam answering reporter questions. give michael sam an a-plus for his performance. when it came to performing on the field, few are as good as is more fun than ever. sees better than ever. ♪ charges faster. and will charge. cool. and heat. from your phone. fact: leaf never needs gas. ever. good for the world. built in america. now, leaf's an easier choice than ever. ♪ shop at choosenissan.com. ♪ >> a massive media contingent gathered at the nfl combine. not to ask jim harbaugh about the cleveland browns but to ask michael sam bat future in the league. he'll showcase his athletic skills on monday. today he was eloquent in show casing his verbal skills and his messaging is the same. >> i wish you guys would say, how is football going, how is training? i'd love for you to ask me that question. it is what it is and i wish you would see me as michael sam the football player instead of michael sam the gay football player. >> impressive. today offensive linemen tight ends on display. greg robinson, 4.92 40 time. not a good showing for richard rodgers, 13th in the ben

i am michael sam. i am a college graduate. i am african-american, and i am gay. >> the n.f.l. issued this response: we admire michael sam's honesty and courage. michael is a gall player. any player with ability and determination can succeed in the n.f.l. we look forward to welcoming and supporting michael sam in 2014. sid siva, we will speak to him live from los angeles to get his take because he was part of that inner circle of michael sam's coming out party. >> this is an interesting indicates because he is not yet an n.f.l. player, but you say he is highly regarded and has a very good chance of getting picked up by the n.f.l. ? >> he is the defensive player of the year and eight of the last 10 sed defensives went in the first round. >> normally, if he was not gay, odds of getting into the n.f.l.? >> yes. we will have more later in the show. >> thank you, ross. >>> a month after a chemical spill, people in west virginia still don't trust what's coming from their taps. this weekend, protesters marched outside the water utilit

this is a chance for michael sam to finally talk about michael sam, and here's a little bit of that. >> heck yeah, i wish you guys would just say, hey, michael sam, how's football going? how's training going? i would love for you to ask me that question, but it is what it is, and i just wish you guys would see me as michael sam the football player instead of michael sam the gay football player. i love my fans. i love mizzou. one of the best, one of the best schools out in the nation, and then out there, what they did, this past weekend, was just amazing, and i wanted to cry, but i'm like, i'm a man. but -- so i didn't -- so i just -- i want to thank everyone who supported me especially mizzou, the students. my coaches. the whole organization, and every missouri fan, i'm a tiger forever. >> and address what michael sam was talking about, the baptist church protested on the opposite side of the missouri campus. the missouri student body through social media gathered thousands, 1,500 students or so, and they went arm and arm and create add human chain around the arena. >> that's what th

. >>> i just wish you guys would see me as michael sam the football player instead of michael sam the gay football player. >> michael sam speaks publicly for the first time since coming out. ♪ ♪ >>> in ukraine, the conflict is coming to a head on this saturday, ideal could not stop the unarrest the president's rival and the former prime minister yulia tim shiancoe joined protesters. she was leased from prison earlier this afternoon. parliament have voted to dismiss president januar yank shiancoe e says he will not step down. protesters across ukraine tour down statutes of former soviet leader. fen jeff glasse is joining us. update us where we stand now. >> reporter: big day of changes, jonathan here. the lamenter elected a new minister, they dismissed the prosecute kerr. people waited all do yulia tim shiancoe. people gathered all day and as night fell. and it was clear that she had been released more and more people tam came, thousands waitg for her to arrive. when she got here she apologized for not being here and joining the people. >> translator: it's a different ukraine, it's

michael sam just graduated from the university of missouri. he's an all-american defensive back and was his team's mvp. he's on many nfl draft lists, and now he says he's felt he had to tell his story. nuance pro football teams to think of him as just another talented athlete. >> i told my teammates this past august that i came out to my teammates, and they took it great. they rallied around me, they supported me, and i couldn't have asked for better teammates. this is something that i've known for a while. but you know, this is, to me, it's just telling them something, another person that, hey, i'm gay, and then it shouldn't be a big problem. >> well, on twitter, the nfl said it admires sam's honesty and courage and looks forward to welcoming him in 2014. the question will be whether this affects his draft pick, actually. >> you know, it's an interesting question. he's ranked right now from the third to the fifth round, which in the nfl means they think you are good enough to play in the nfl and play very well. he's been playing in the s.e.c.

i wish you guys would see me as michael sam the football player, instead of michael sam, the gay football player. i just want to do what i love to do, playing football. if the miami dolphins draft me, i would be excited to be part of that organization, but i'm not afraid about going into that environment. i know how to handle myself, i know how to communicate with my teammates, i know how to communicate with the coaches. and the other staff, whoever i need to communicate with. i've been in locker rooms where all kinds of slurs have been said and i don't think anyone means it. i think the little naive and uneducated, but as time goes on, everyone will adapt. if someone wants to call me a name, i will have a conversation with that guy and hopefully it won't lead to nothing else. since i'm not on an nfl active roster right now, that is my only thought is to be on that roster and so that's my 100% focus on this. i'm not focusing on anything else but to earn my spot on an nfl team. i love my -- i love my fans, i love mizzou. one of the best -- one of the best schools out in the nation. and the

, quote, we admire michael sam's honesty and courage. michael is a football player. any player with ability and determination can succeed in the nfl. we look forward to welcoming and supporting michael sam in 2014. and this morning, first lady michelle obama tweeted her support writing, quote, you're an inspiration to all of us. we couldn't be prouder of your courage both on and off the field. the support has been widespread, there are still many within the sports world questioning what this could mean for his career going forward. sam is a first team all-american, defensive player of the year in the s.e.c., widely considered one of the top players in all of college football, and in other words, he's a big deal. "sports illustrated" talked to eight anonymous nfl executives and coaches who suggested his path to the league will be daunting. one went so far as to say, i don't think football is ready for an openly gay player just yet. in the coming decade or two, it's acceptable but at this point in time, it's still a man's game, to call som

. >> i'm michael sam, i'm a college graduate, and i'm gay. >> reporter: when michael sam admitted he was gay, he became the first openly gay player drafted by the national football league but many in the lgbt community say disclosing his sexual orientation in what's known as a tough guy sport will open other doors. >> the more people hear about it, the more young people will feel comfortable. >> reporter: dshe says because sam came out publicly before the draft, he's putting the nfl to the test. >> if the nfl and individual owners and teams reject him, they are very publicly saying, we would rather have somebody  with fewer skills than a man whose gay on our team. a profound statement. >> reporter: a nfl spokesman said we look forward to welcoming michael sam in 2014. all eyes will be in may to see whether the nfl puts action behind the words and a team selects sam making him a game changer. in santa clara, marianne favro, nbc abare brks krrkbc bay area >>> michelle ocbama said you're an inspiration to all of us, we couldn't be prouder of your courage, both on and off the field. >>

. >> missouri michael sam came out of the closet. >> michael sam to be drafted to the nfl would make him the first openly gay play per in that league. >> i came to tell the world i'm an openly proud gay man. >> that is some courage but we can't have a gay if the ballplayer t is first and ten, not first in steve. and the most offensive part, michael sam doesn't understand why people might be offended. >> this is to me just another telling another person, hey, i'm gay t shouldn't a big problem. >> stephen: i'm sorry, sir, but nobody chooses to have a problem with this. i was born having a problem with this. look. look, come on, nobody is saying this guy is not a great football player. all-american, the sec's de-- fec defensive player of thier, that is quite an honor coming from the securities and exchange commission. but now-- pro teams are just going to have to think twice before drafting him. >> "sports illustrated" spoke with nearly a dozen coaches and nfl executives, many of whom said football isn't ready for an openly gay player. >> yesterday michael sam was projected as the third

>> i'm michael sam. i'm a football player and i'm gay. >> the mixture of some ice and some snow. >> widespread freezing rain. >> it is going to be significant. >> we will never stop working to ensure equality under the law is protected by the law. >> i have not lost hope. >> jamie anderson defied gravity with baffling acrobatics. >> it just felt so good. >> breaking overnight, the nfl has never had an openly gay player, key word there, but that may be about to change. michael sam revealed he is gay in a television interview sunday. >> i told my teammates this past august that i came out to my teammates and think took it great. they rallied around me, they supported me and i couldn't ask for better teammates. this is something i've known for a while but this to me is telling another person that, hey, i'm gay. it shouldn't be a big problem. >> strong on the field and off, sam said he felt he had to tell his story and wants pro football teams to think of mim as jer another -- >> threats made to airlines fro

sam openly, proud gay michael sam. >> yesterday, missouri's all-american defensive end michael sam, the sec's defensive player of the year and expected to be a third to fifth-round pick in the nfl draft tells the world he's gay. the best defensive player in college football's best conference only a third to fifth-round pick. really? that is shocking. and i guess that other thing is, too. michael sam would be the first openly gay player in the nfl, says he knows there will be problems and they've already started. several nfl officials telling "sports illustrated" it will hurt him on draft day because a gay player wouldn't be welcome in an nfl locker room. it would be uncomfortable because that's a man's world. you beat a woman and drag her down a flight of stairs pulling her hair out by the roots, you're the fourth guy taken in the nfl draft. you kill people while driving drunk, that guy is welcome. players caught in hotel rooms with illegal drugs and prostitutes, we know they're welcome. players accused of rape and pay the woman to go away. you lie to police, trying to cover up a mu

all eyes on michael sam, the n.f.l. combine, where the college players show off their skills for the team scouts. he is hoping to become the first openly gay player in n.f.l. history. michael eaves was there. >> when michael sam came to the n.f.l. combine, he was far from the top prospect. when it came to availability on saturday, he was the most popular. he tried to use the time by taking the focus off him being gay, and being a football player. that would be determined by what he did in front of scouts. they started sunday and concluded monday here at st. lucas stadium. he didn't perform the way he needed to to improve the draft status. whether it was a 40 yard dash. benchpress, 17 reps of 245 pounds, and one of the lowest at his position, and the other drills - middle of the road at best. how did he think he performed in the wake of pressure at the n.f.l. combine. after the works concluded he spoke to matt millon. >> i thought i did well. it was a great experience showing my quality to the scouts and coaches. >> anyt

. >> michael sam admit he is gay. reaction has been swift, everyone from the white house to sam's fellow students from the university of missouri are speaking out. >> i'm not afraid of who i am. i'm not afraid to tell the world who i am. i'm michael sam, a college graduate, african american and i'm gay. >> a personal and proud why admission from yur university of north carolina player michael sam. a team that has been beaten down by a bullying are scandal in miami, to current and former players who suffered traumatic brain injuries. this could be a stereotype breaker. sam's students liken the sec defensive player to jackie probz. jackie robinson. >> maybe he's going to be the trend setter that's going oto be the first homosexual why player. >> great for the world. >> president obama tweeting congratulations on leading the way. that's reel sportsmanship. >> the first lady: you're an inspiration to all of us. we couldn't be prouder of your courage, both on and off the field. >> nba player, jason collins, called sam a gr

i'm michael sam. i'm a college graduate. i'm african-american. and i'm gay. >> and sam says all that should matter is that he is a good player who can help a team. but some nfl coaches told "sports illustrated" they don't think pro football is ready for an openly gay player yet. the nfl draft is in may. >> on twitter former missouri quarterback chase daniel, now with the chiefs, tweeted he is amazed at michael sam's honesty and courage. tight end tom crabtree, who did not go to missouri, said coming out takes courage for where he is in his career and where we are as a league. and another tweet here, from another player who came out after his pro basketball career was over. congratulating sam wishing him luck and thanking him. >> and michael sam's announcement is our facebook question of the day. we are asking, how significant is it when a prominent athlete comes out as gay? join our discussion at wnnfans.com. >> obviously, a very courageous move, you know. >> sure. >> he's certainly not the first person that's ever been gay in the nfl but the fir

so hopefully michael sam can change that environment. >> woodruff: wade davis, is michael sam prepared, again based on your talking with him, is he-- what is he prepared to says in the months to come? >> well, first of all, he doesn't think he is going to face anything that he didn't already face in college. you know i would say probably 20 to 30% of the nfl is made up of guys who played in the sfec. so it's not like he came from a small school. and he also was the captain of his team. so he knows what it is like to be a leader. he knows what it is like to deal with adversity. he's also understanding that it's also his responsibility to protect his teammates. that there is going to be a player or two that may something homophobic but he is to the going to run to the principal or media and said hey this guy said this, this guy said that, these guys will be his brother, will earn their trust by playing off the field and showing up as other player does off the field. >> woodruff: all right, we have to leech it there, it is a subject i know we will spend more time on. but tonight wade davi

michael sam's agent, cameron weiss. thanks so much. >> thank you. >>> more on this story with mike peska from npr and a former nfl player who came out after he left the league. stick around for that. my mother and my grandmother are very old fashioned. i think we both are clean freaks. i used to scrub the floor on my knees. [ daughter ] i've mastered the art of foot cleaning. oh, boy. oh, boy. oh, boy. [ carmel ] that drives me nuts. it gives me anxiety just thinking about how crazy they get. [ doorbell rings ] [ daughter ] oh, wow. [ carmel ] swiffer wetjet. you guys should try this. it's so easy. oh, my. [ gasps ] i just washed this floor. if i didn't see it i wouldn't believe it. [ carmel ] it did my heart good to see you cleaning. [ regina ] yeah, your generation has all the good stuff. [ daughter ] oh, yeah. which will cause me to miss the end of the game. the x1 entertainment operating system lets your watch live tv anywhere. can i watch it in butterfly valley? sure. can i watch it in glimmering lake? yep. here, t

♪ >>> i just wish you guys will see me as michael sam the football player instead of michael sam the gay football player. >> that was nfl draft prospect michael sam about an hour ago talking to reporters. sam there referencing all the questions he's been getting since announcing that he is gay. sam, like other players in the 2014 draft class, are at the scouting combine in indianapolis right now. like the others, sam will go through a series of drills and be evaluated on his skill. but unlike the others, he may be evaluated on his sexual orientation as well. joining us now is wade davis, a former nfl player who came out after his playing days. davis is now the executive director of "you can play" project, an advocacy group working to eradicate homophobia in professional sports. many people are predicting michael sam will be drafted in the third round but could the fact that he is gay mean teams might pass on him? >> i think at this point it's going to come down to what is he like for this team as a football player? and teams are going to draft -- i really do believe that they're goin

i am michael sam. i'm a college graduate. i'm african american, and i'm gay. >> there has never been an openly gay player in the nfl. and sam's announcement brought him waves of support, including from president obama, who tweeted congratulations on leading the way. that's real sportsmanship. the first lady told sam, quote, you're an inspiration to all of us. we couldn't be prouder of your courage both on and off the field. sam's announcement also brought out lots of negative reaction, with some asking how the news will affect his draft stock. and nfl executives questioning if the league is ready for him. and one former coach claiming he is bringing baggage to the locker room. here are the facts. michael sam came out to his missouri teammates last year, and they were one win away from being the national championship. didn't hurt the game at all. he is an inspiration to all. joining me now is donte stallworth. he is a ten-year nfl veteran, most recently playing for the washington redskins. thanks for being with us. >> thanks f

i wish you would see me as michael sam the football prayer instead of michael sam the gay football player. >> today offensiveline and tight end on display. auburn's greg robinson, 65-point, a 4.92 40. project as a top five pickment cal's richard rogers, 14th 14th among tight ends with a time 4.87 seconds. rogers left cal after his junior season. tomorrow, quarterbacks, receivers and runningbacks. the nfl network has all-day coverage through tuesday. >> the last time bruce bochy and barry bonds compared notes. bonds is expected to arrive at scottsdale and begin work as an instructor. >>> grant balfour had an intimidating determine on the mound. his replacement, jim johnson, 6'6", 240, the a's new closer. mears mike shumann in phoenix. >> get traded to a new team, tough to integrate yourself. what's the feeling of this clubhouse? >> obviously a loose bunch. and it's a good team chemistry feeling, and that kind of stuff that carries over, even off the field, guys are hanging out. so that's what you want. you want that good team chemistry. >> there is pressure to replace special litsch at tha

i'm comfortable with who i am. >> michael sam! >> reporter: coordinated interviews with the new york times and espn, sharing with the world what his college teammates have kept secret since last summer. >> they rallied around me. they supported me, and i couldn't ask for better teammates. >> reporter: the president tweeted congratulations on leading the way. the first lady, you're an inspiration to all of us. and at the university of missouri today where sam was an all-american defensive end, his name written on the snowy field. but on line there were critics, some using anti-gay slurs, suggesting the nfl will be damaged. "sports illustrated" spoke with nearly a dozen coaches and nfl executives, many of whom said football isn't ready for an openly gay player. >> yesterday michael sam was projected as a third or fourth round pick but definitely on the board. and today executives will say anonymously that his stock has dropped. he may not even be drafted. >> reporter: chris kluwe, a former punter for the vikings, who has taken heat

i'm michael sam. i'm a college graduate. i'm african-american and i'm gay. >> reporter: weeks before he is part of the nfl draft, michael sam speaks his truth. >> i think he is taking a huge risk. >> reporter: bill romanowski says despite his talent on the field his announcement will block his entry into some locker rooms. >> this is a risk. is the talent worth the risk? >> reporter: he is expected to be the first out professional football player. one of the few stepping out of the shadows. jason collins revealed he is gay in april. rick wells came out in 2011. he says it's a life-changing moment. when you care about the people you're around and the people you work with it's hard not to be able to share that part of your life. >> reporter: wells believes that he is confident and capable of handling the reaction. >> a lot of the scouts knew about it. >> reporter: fans say his story shouldn't matter as much as his skill. >> it doesn't matter if you are gay or whatever. if you can play football should be the only thing you shou

prospect michael sam an inspiration. some predict he will break down another barrier in pro sports as jackie robinson broke the racial barrier in baseball. james brown host of "the n.f.l. today" and a cbs news special correspondent has our story. >> i'm not afraid to tell the world about who i am. i am michael sam, i'm a college graduate, i'm african american, and i'm gay. >> reporter: with those words, university of missouri all america defensive lineman michael sam became the first openly gay n.f.l. prospect. he is projected to be picked in the middle rounds of this year's n.f.l. draft. >> i am a team player, i can make plays, i can help teams win games and that's all that should matter. >> reporter: since sam came out in interviews with espn and the "new york times" on sunday, he has received public support from several players and the league. but in a recent interview, all pro linebacker jonathan vilma left no doubt that a gay player will be a culture shock in imagine if he's the guy next to me and, you know, i get d