Showing posts with label Missouri Tigers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Missouri Tigers. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Missouri Tigers linemen twerk to 'Wiggle' during practice (VIDEO)

Here's something that might make you spit up your coffee: football players twerking during practice.

The Missouri Tigers' offensive linemen broke it down to Jason Derulo and Snoop Dogg's hit "Wiggle." And some of the coaching staff got their Miley Cyrus moves down too.



The rest of the team appeared to get a good laugh out of the dance line but, unless two tons of wiggling rear ends is your thing, you might want to avert your eyes.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Michael Sam signs first endorsement deal with Visa: Report

Michael Sam, who could become the first openly gay player in the NFL whether he’s drafted this week or gets picked up as an undrafted rookie free agent, has signed his first endorsement deal.

The defensive end partnered with Visa, according to an ESPN report, and on Thursday — the first day of the NFL draft — the company debuted a video spot featuring the SEC Defensive Player of the Year to its YouTube account.


“Judge me for what I do on the field,” Sam's voiceover says as he slowly bench presses in a weight room. 



Sam, who is predicted to go anywhere from the third to sixth round, had 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles at Missouri last year.

"We felt that Michael's story was a perfect fit for our 'everywhere' campaign, which is meant to inspire people to reach their own personal goals and aspirations," Visa's chief marketing officer Kevin Burke told ESPN.com. "We wish Michael the best on and off the field as he embarks on the next chapter of his life."



Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Sheldon Richardson knew ex-roommate Sam was gay in 2012

In an interview Tuesday with SNY Network's Jeane Coakley, New York Jets defensive tackle and 2013 NFL defensive rookie of the year Sheldon Richardson revealed that he roomed with Michael Sam when the two were teammates at the University of Missouri in 2012 and  knew of Sam’s sexual orientation long before he announced publicly Sunday night that he was gay.

Richardson and Sam were teammates at Missouri in 2011 and '12, and while Richardson said Sam never discussed his sexuality with him, he also said he "knew," adding, "You saw him."

According to Richardson, it never mattered.

"Hey, he has his own sexuality. With me living with him, it was a little unusual at first, but it's stuff you look past," said Richardson. "Didn't take nothing from him. He was a great teammate, great person. Everything you wanted out of Michael Sam, you got out of him."

Richardson referred to Sam as "my guy" and "my homeboy."



Coakley interviewed Richardson in Houston, where he's been working out with Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. She asked Richardson if there was a place for Sam in an NFL locker room.

"Most definitely—unless your team is immature-minded," Richardson said. "If guys can't get past that, man, it's just crazy. Of course it might be just weird at first for you if you're not used to it. Promise you, sexuality has nothing to do with him being on the football field. He's a completely different person, he put this face on, no smiles. He's serious business. He's a killer."



Richardson said Sam did not publicly acknowledge his sexuality in 2012. Sam did tell his Missouri coaches and teammates he was gay last August — before he came out publicly Sunday night.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Missouri All-American and NFL prospect Michael Sam says he is gay

Missouri All-American Michael Sam says he is gay, and the Tigers defensive end could become the first openly homosexual player in the NFL.

In multiple interviews published Sunday night, the 260-pound Sam — an All-America pick last season and potential mid-round NFL draft pick in May — revealed he is gay.

"I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it," Sam told the New York Times. "I just want to own my truth."

In other interviews with ESPN and Outsports, Sam says he already came out to his teammates and coaches at Missouri in August.

"I am an openly, proud gay man," he said


Sam's  representatives had spread the word to NFL teams recently he planned to come out before this month's NFL scouting combine.

On Saturday night, Sam had dinner with a group including former NFL punter Chris Kluwe and linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who both have been outspoken in their support of gay rights.

No NFL player has announced publicly he's gay while his career is active. Several former players, including Kwame Harris and Esera Tuaolo, have said they're gay after retiring.

Sam participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., last month after leading the SEC in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (19), and he is projected to be a mid-round NFL draft pick.


"It’s a big deal. No one has done this before. And it’s kind of a nervous process," he said. "But I know what I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL."