One day after some backlash for the comments he made about the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL, Tony Dungy has decided to clarify his remarks.
On Monday, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts head football coach said that he would not have drafted Michael Sam due fears that he would be a distraction.
CBS Sports reported that Dungy said he was actually surprised to read the comments from the interview he gave and released the following statement to clear things up. It read in part:
"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," Dungy said. “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."
The time frame that Dungy said the interview took place during is in question. Reporter Ira Kaufman said he talked to the former coach and current analyst just a week or two ago. Winfrey’s network announced in May that the show about the rookie was being postponed.
Sam, a former defensive end at the University of Missouri made headlines when he came out as gay a few months before the 2014 draft. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year was expected to go high in the draft, but his stock plummeted and he was selected 249th by the St. Louis Rams.
Last week, Sam won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY’s and gave a heartfelt speech. He is scheduled to report to training camp this week and speak with reporters.