, but he hopes to return for this series. He is questionable fo | Forum

Michael Sam will face a daunting set of challenges that most rookies dont have to deal with when making the already formidable jump from college to the NFL. Saucony Grid 9000 For Sale . The SECs co-defensive player of the year is about to find out if Americas most popular sport, rooted in machismo and entrenched in locker room hijinks, is ready for its first openly gay player. First, hell have to find a team willing to put up with the media circus that will surround him. Then, hell have to find acceptance like he did at Missouri, where his sexuality was a non-issue during a 12-2 season. Only now, hell face opponents and their fans who know hes gay. He might even face cheap shots and teammates hesitant to shower alongside him or undress in his presence. While several teams and coaches said Monday that Sams sexual orientation wouldnt affect his draft status, former NFL punter Chris Kluwe, who contends his championing of gay rights led to his release from the Minnesota Vikings last year, wasnt so sure. "The majority of players will be supportive of Michael Sam or just wont care," Kluwe said. "Youll have isolated guys here and there who might try to make a fuss about it, but players by and large are very much, Hey, were here to do a job, were here to go out and play football. "In terms of the coaching/front office side, I think theres where issues are going to arise because they are going to look at this like, Hey, is this going to cause a distraction for the team? And by distraction, they mean, Were not really OK with having a gay player on our team, we cant come out and say that, so were going to use the word distraction," Kluwe added. "And unfortunately, those are the people who determine if youre employed or not." John Elway has a unique perspective running the Broncos front office now after a Hall of Fame playing career, and he said Monday hed have no problem drafting Sam. "We will evaluate Michael just like any other draft prospect: on the basis of his ability, character and NFL potential. His announcement will have no effect on how we see him as a football player," Elway said. "Having spent 16 years in an NFL locker room, the bottom line is that its about treating others with respect and earning that respect. By all indications, it appears Michael has done just that throughout his football career." Several coaches said if a player is accountable and a winner, being gay is a non-issue. "If anybody can come in and help us win games and be successful -- black, white, yellow, straight, gay -- I dont think it matters," said new Green Bay quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt. Before Sam revealed his sexual orientation, the pass-rusher was projected as a mid-round draft pick. Kluwe said reports that Sams draft stock could drop because he revealed his sexual orientation "basically could have been lifted from any American sporting paper in the 1940s when Jackie Robinson was about to enter Major League Baseball. Its like weve been here before. Why do we have to keep doing the same thing?" Sam will likely face even more scrutiny from opponents fans than Chargers linebacker Manti Teo did after getting fooled by a hoax involving a fake girlfriend while at Notre Dame. What will help Sam is landing on a team with strong veteran leadership, something that was lacking in Miami, where tackle Jonathan Martin walked away at midseason, alleging guard Richie Incognito led daily harassment with racial, aggressive and sexually charged comments. Incognito was suspended for the final eight games and Martins career was thrown in limbo. Former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley said Sams performance on the field and as a teammate should quickly overshadow any stereotypes about sexual orientation. "I dont think he faces any challenges as a player. I dont think he faces a lot of challenges as a person," Cooley said. "I think once he establishes himself as the kind of teammate hes going to be, I think everybody will accept it fine." Eagles All-Pro guard Evan Mathis said Sam will face obstacles no matter what. "NFL players shouldnt judge Michael Sam based on his sexuality but some guys will. MLB players shouldnt have judged Jackie Robinson based on his skin colour but some did," Mathis said. "Whether or not the NFL is ready for it, it needs to happen. There are still people on this Earth who lived through the prohibition of alcohol and the Civil Rights movement. They can look back and reflect on how primitive those times were. "Current generations will look back at marijuana prohibition and gays having to fight for equal rights and think how primitive those times were." Saucony Grid 9000 Mint . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http:///...e-blue-sneakers.html . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. http:///...original-womens.html . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings.(Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals will shoot for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals when they host the New York Rangers in Saturdays Game 2 encounter at Verizon Center. Catch the game on TSN and TSN Mobile TV starting at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. Also available on TSN Mobile TV The third-seeded Capitals, who won their fifth Southeast Division title in six years, used a strong performance by goaltender Braden Holtby to take the early lead in this opening-round battle. Holtby made 35 saves, including 28 over the final two periods, to help the Capitals grab a 3-1 victory in Thursdays Game 1 in D.C. "Its a win and we need to move on, simple as that," said Holtby. "We need to watch the video tomorrow and see what we did right, and what we did wrong, and be ready for the next game. In my mind theres no individual who wins a game, this is a team sport." Alex Ovechkin, Jason Chimera and Marcus Johansson all scored in the second period for the Capitals, who fell behind 1-0 in the first stanza before charging back for the win. Washington will try to grab a 2-0 lead in the series before it shifts to New York for Games 3 and 4. The Rangers will host the next meeting on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Carl Hagelin had the lone goal of the game for the sixth-seeded Rangers, who are in the playoffs for a third straight year. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots in the loss. Washington went 1-for-5 on the power play in the win, while the Rangers failed to score on four opportunities with the man advantage. Thhe Rangers got the only goal of the first period when Hagelins wraparound from the right side hit off the skate of Washingtons John Erskine and snuck into the net at the 16:44 mark. http:///...-sneakers-brown.html. However, Holtby kept it a one-goal game by making a save on a Hagelin breakaway during a Washington power play around a minute into the second period. The Caps finally broke through while on another power play later in the second. With Arron Asham in the box, a slap shot from Mike Green in the high slot went wide to the left of the net, but it bounced out front and Ovechkin one-timed it home 6:59 in. "Im not so sure Ashams was a penalty but they called it, though," said New York head coach John Tortorella. "We cant take that many penalties in a game. You cant take two in a row so hopefully well be more disciplined in the next game." These two clubs are familiar foes in the postseason of late, as this is the fourth time in the past five years they have met. The Capitals took the first two matchups, but the Rangers won a seven-game series in the conference semifinals last year. Washington has won four of the seven all-time playoff series between these two clubs, but the Rangers took two of three from the Capitals in the regular season The Capitals had winger Joel Ward back in the lineup for Game 1 after he missed the final nine games of the regular season with a knee injury. New York defenseman Marc Staal hasnt played since suffering a serious eye injury on March 5, but he hopes to return for this series. He is questionable for Game 2. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys' ' '