Vikings general manager Rick Spielman’s comments on Christian Ponder aren’t the only thing he said that’s making headlines Friday.
Spielman chimed in on Michael Sam, the Missouri defensive end that said he is gay in an ESPN interview Sunday, stating that he believes a team “would be wrong” to let his sexual persuasion effect his draft status.
The general manager also said “we will make sure that our culture is created where he could fit in to our locker room” and added “a guy could have three heads. Black, white, purple, green, if we get a guy that can help us win football games it shouldn’t matter.”
Sam could become the first openly-gay player in the NFL should he be taken in May’s NFL Draft. He is projected by many outlets as a third-to-fifth-round pick.
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf also came out in support of Sam earlier this week, saying the All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year being gay would not effect Minnesota’s possible drafting of him, and that the Vikings “commend Michael Sam for being very courageous”.
On a related note, Spielman also said that he backs special teams coordinator Mike Priefer as a “very good football coach…very good family man.”
Despite allegations from former punter Chris Kluwe that he is a bigot and that he made insensitive remarks about the gay community during Kluwe’s time in Minnesota, Priefer remains in his position after new head coach Mike Zimmer announced his staff last week.
Spielman would not comment on the ongoing investigation surrounding Priefer and the allegations.
