Monday, April 06, 2015

An NFL player tells the truth about Michael Sam and the hiring of a female ref.

Sam has never been and never will be an NFL caliber player.

At the Veteran Pro Day, for example, he ran a 4.99 40... or, about as fast as the speed of set concrete.

As I indicated in this blog, Sam is not a pro-level player and if he wasn't gay, we'd have never heard of him.

Obviously, I'm not the only one to share that view.  And the NFL's hiring of a female Ref?

The same kind of thing.


Jaguars' Marks skeptical of motives behind NFL's hiring of female official

by 22h ago
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters
Sarah Thomas is reportedly joining the NFL's officiating crew for 2015, becoming the first full-time female official in league history. While most are applauding the move, some - like Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks - are questioning the motives behind it. 

"It's just like the Michael Sam situation - if he wasn't gay, he would have gone undrafted," Marks told TMZ, according to Pro Football Talk. "Instead, the league drafts him because I think they are trying to monopolize every aspect of the world. The same thing with a female ref. For the league, it's great publicity. The NFL is all about monopolizing every opportunity."

Marks has no issue with the NFL's hiring of Thomas, just as long as she's qualified.

"Ain't nothing wrong with it, especially as long as she knows what she's doing," he said.

Thomas isn't someone the NFL just pulled off the street, though. She became the first woman to ever officiate an NCAA football game in 2007, has worked two college bowl games and scrimmages for the New Orleans Saints, and spent three days at the Indianapolis Colts' minicamp in 2013 as part of the league's officiating development program.

The NFL has taken a much different approach to league matters in the aftermath of the Ray Rice case, so there's bound to be some skepticism behind such a move. But if the league treats Thomas the same way it treats all of its officials, that skepticism will, hopefully, be quieted.

_______________________________________________________________________

That's really not the point.  I believe there are dozens of male officials, particularly at the NCAA level, who are FAR more qualified and experienced to be brought on than she is.

THAT is the point.  This affirmative action crap is just that.  And kowtowing to special interests groups is not likely to increase viewership OR ticket sales.

Meanwhile, you think the NFL's fine for this guy speaking his mind will be more than, or less than, $50,000?

Wonder how much they fined Ray Rice for beating his now wife?

No comments: