The Los Angeles Rams are set to appear on the 2016 version of HBO's annual behind the scenes look at NFL training camp, "Hard Knocks." There will be plenty of drama to watch unfold, including the quarterback competition, which will include Nick Foles, Case Keenum, and likely at least one more addition, potentially a prospect from the 2016 NFL Draft, along with plenty of other Rams issues that will make for must-see TV.
But on the day that the Rams were announced as the 2016 "Hard Knocks" participant, a very interesting and ultimately damning report emerged suggesting that the franchise also could have been on the 2014 edition, but weren't because they agreed to draft Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player, instead.
Howard Balzer, a veteran NFL reporter, tweeted the report late Wednesday, suggesting that "sources" indicated to him that Sam was drafted by the Rams so that they could then avoid appearing on "Hard Knocks," a show that fans love, but that is universally despised by the 32-man enclave of ultra-secretive NFL head coaches.
Sam, tweeting at Balzer a short time later, made it clear that he wasn't surprised by the report.
Sam, prior to announcing his sexuality, was viewed as a top prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was the SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year and a top performer on a very good Mizzou defense. But the moment he announced to the world that he was gay, his draft stock plummeted.
And while there were plenty of issues with Sam's game and athletic makeup - Sam suffered from classic "tweener" status, in that he was too big and slow for linebacker and to small for defensive end - it was hard to explain away the fact that he lasted until the last round.
Sam, of course, landed with the Rams and played well during the preseason only to be cut. He spent time with a couple of other franchises, including the Dallas Cowboys, but ultimately disappeared only to resurface in the CFL. But that proved another failed football stint and Sam is now out of the game altogether.
Balzer wasn't done by just suggesting that the league conspired to ensure that the first openly gay player to enter the draft didn't wind up unselected. He clarified that the pre-draft deal was viewed as a win-win for both sides because the Rams didn't want to appear on "Hard Knocks" and the league didn't want to appear bigoted.
The potential blowback from a report like this could be monumental for the league. It paints NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a questionable light as a person and a leader - if the report is true, he essentially manipulated the draft process to his own ends.
