PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Former Pittsburgh Steeler defensive coordinator, NFL head coach, and NBC analyst Tony Dungy is clarifying remarks me he made about Michael Sam.
Today Dungy released a statement to clarify remarks he made in a Tampa Tribune article.
Dungy was quoted by the paper as saying he wouldn't have drafted Michael Sam, the first opening gay NFL player, because he "wouldn't want to deal with all of it."
Here is Dungy's full statement to Pro Football Talk.
On Monday afternoon while on vacation with my family, I was quite surprised to read excerpts from an interview I gave several weeks ago related to this year's NFL Draft, and I feel compelled to clarify those remarks.
I was asked whether I would have drafted Michael Sam and I answered that I would not have drafted him. I gave my honest answer, which is that I felt drafting him would bring much distraction to the team. At the time of my interview, the Oprah Winfrey reality show that was going to chronicle Michael's first season had been announced.
I was not asked whether or not Michael Sam deserves an opportunity to play in the NFL. He absolutely does.
I was not asked whether his sexual orientation should play a part in the evaluation process. It should not.
I was not asked whether I would have a problem having Michael Sam on my team. I would not.
I have been asked all of those questions several times in the last three months and have always answered them the same way—by saying that playing in the NFL is, and should be, about merit.
The best players make the team, and everyone should get the opportunity to prove whether they're good enough to play. That's my opinion as a coach. But those were not the questions I was asked.
What I was asked about was my philosophy of drafting, a philosophy that was developed over the years, which was to minimize distractions for my teams.
I do not believe Michael's sexual orientation will be a distraction to his teammates or his organization.
I do, however, believe that the media attention that comes with it will be a distraction. Unfortunately we are all seeing this play out now, and I feel badly that my remarks played a role in the distraction.
I wish Michael Sam nothing but the best in his quest to become a star in the NFL and I am confident he will get the opportunity to show what he can do on the field.
My sincere hope is that we will be able to focus on his play and not on his sexual orientation.
Tony Dungy was the first African-American coach to ever win a Super Bowl.
Dungy was the defensive coordinator with the Steelers from 1984 to 1988.
Current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was a defensive backs coach under Dungy.
The NFL Shop says that Michael Sam's jersey is the 6th most popular selling jersey since April 1st.
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Former NFL Coach Tony Dungy Clarifies Michael Sam Comments
/ CBS Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Former Pittsburgh Steeler defensive coordinator, NFL head coach, and NBC analyst Tony Dungy is clarifying remarks me he made about Michael Sam.
Today Dungy released a statement to clarify remarks he made in a Tampa Tribune article.
Dungy was quoted by the paper as saying he wouldn't have drafted Michael Sam, the first opening gay NFL player, because he "wouldn't want to deal with all of it."
Here is Dungy's full statement to Pro Football Talk.
On Monday afternoon while on vacation with my family, I was quite surprised to read excerpts from an interview I gave several weeks ago related to this year's NFL Draft, and I feel compelled to clarify those remarks.
I was asked whether I would have drafted Michael Sam and I answered that I would not have drafted him. I gave my honest answer, which is that I felt drafting him would bring much distraction to the team. At the time of my interview, the Oprah Winfrey reality show that was going to chronicle Michael's first season had been announced.
I was not asked whether or not Michael Sam deserves an opportunity to play in the NFL. He absolutely does.
I was not asked whether his sexual orientation should play a part in the evaluation process. It should not.
I was not asked whether I would have a problem having Michael Sam on my team. I would not.
I have been asked all of those questions several times in the last three months and have always answered them the same way—by saying that playing in the NFL is, and should be, about merit.
The best players make the team, and everyone should get the opportunity to prove whether they're good enough to play. That's my opinion as a coach. But those were not the questions I was asked.
What I was asked about was my philosophy of drafting, a philosophy that was developed over the years, which was to minimize distractions for my teams.
I do not believe Michael's sexual orientation will be a distraction to his teammates or his organization.
I do, however, believe that the media attention that comes with it will be a distraction. Unfortunately we are all seeing this play out now, and I feel badly that my remarks played a role in the distraction.
I wish Michael Sam nothing but the best in his quest to become a star in the NFL and I am confident he will get the opportunity to show what he can do on the field.
My sincere hope is that we will be able to focus on his play and not on his sexual orientation.
Tony Dungy was the first African-American coach to ever win a Super Bowl.
Dungy was the defensive coordinator with the Steelers from 1984 to 1988.
Current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was a defensive backs coach under Dungy.
The NFL Shop says that Michael Sam's jersey is the 6th most popular selling jersey since April 1st.
RELATED LINKS:
More Steelers News
More Sports News
Join The Conversation, Like KDKA On Facebook
Follow KDKA On Twitter
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