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Michael Sam will face a daunting set of challenges that most rookies dont have to deal with when making the already formidable jump from college to the NFL. The SECs co-defensive player of the year is about to find out if Americas most popular sport, rooted in machismo and entrenched in locker room hijinks, is ready for its first openly gay player. First, hell have to find a team willing to put up with the media circus that will surround him. Then, hell have to find acceptance like he did at Missouri, where his sexuality was a non-issue during a 12-2 season. Only now, hell face opponents and their fans who know hes gay. He might even face cheap shots and teammates hesitant to shower alongside him or undress in his presence. While several teams and coaches said Monday that Sams sexual orientation wouldnt affect his draft status, former NFL punter Chris Kluwe, who contends his championing of gay rights led to his release from the Minnesota Vikings last year, wasnt so sure. "The majority of players will be supportive of Michael Sam or just wont care," Kluwe said. "Youll have isolated guys here and there who might try to make a fuss about it, but players by and large are very much, Hey, were here to do a job, were here to go out and play football. "In terms of the coaching/front office side, I think theres where issues are going to arise because they are going to look at this like, Hey, is this going to cause a distraction for the team? And by distraction, they mean, Were not really OK with having a gay player on our team, we cant come out and say that, so were going to use the word distraction," Kluwe added. "And unfortunately, those are the people who determine if youre employed or not." John Elway has a unique perspective running the Broncos front office now after a Hall of Fame playing career, and he said Monday hed have no problem drafting Sam. "We will evaluate Michael just like any other draft prospect: on the basis of his ability, character and NFL potential. His announcement will have no effect on how we see him as a football player," Elway said. "Having spent 16 years in an NFL locker room, the bottom line is that its about treating others with respect and earning that respect. By all indications, it appears Michael has done just that throughout his football career." Several coaches said if a player is accountable and a winner, being gay is a non-issue. "If anybody can come in and help us win games and be successful -- black, white, yellow, straight, gay -- I dont think it matters," said new Green Bay quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt. Before Sam revealed his sexual orientation, the pass-rusher was projected as a mid-round draft pick. Kluwe said reports that Sams draft stock could drop because he revealed his sexual orientation "basically could have been lifted from any American sporting paper in the 1940s when Jackie Robinson was about to enter Major League Baseball. Its like weve been here before. Why do we have to keep doing the same thing?" Sam will likely face even more scrutiny from opponents fans than Chargers linebacker Manti Teo did after getting fooled by a hoax involving a fake girlfriend while at Notre Dame. What will help Sam is landing on a team with strong veteran leadership, something that was lacking in Miami, where tackle Jonathan Martin walked away at midseason, alleging guard Richie Incognito led daily harassment with racial, aggressive and sexually charged comments. Incognito was suspended for the final eight games and Martins career was thrown in limbo. Former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley said Sams performance on the field and as a teammate should quickly overshadow any stereotypes about sexual orientation. "I dont think he faces any challenges as a player. I dont think he faces a lot of challenges as a person," Cooley said. "I think once he establishes himself as the kind of teammate hes going to be, I think everybody will accept it fine." Eagles All-Pro guard Evan Mathis said Sam will face obstacles no matter what. "NFL players shouldnt judge Michael Sam based on his sexuality but some guys will. MLB players shouldnt have judged Jackie Robinson based on his skin colour but some did," Mathis said. "Whether or not the NFL is ready for it, it needs to happen. There are still people on this Earth who lived through the prohibition of alcohol and the Civil Rights movement. They can look back and reflect on how primitive those times were. "Current generations will look back at marijuana prohibition and gays having to fight for equal rights and think how primitive those times were." Cheap Dallas Cowboys Gear . According to a report from CSN Bay Area, the 49ers are bracing for 6-8 game suspension for their outside linebacker. Authentic Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . On the day the club activated Casey Janssen from the 15-day disabled list, his return from a strained oblique that cost him the first six weeks of the regular season, it announced Sergio Santos would be placed on the disabled list on Monday with discomfort in his right forearm. http://www.cowboyscheap.com/.com) - The Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics both entered Wednesday nights game riding lengthy losing streaks. Wholesale Dallas Cowboys Jerseys .ca. In addition to the game being aired in its entirety on CTV Two Vancouver Island and TSN.ca, TSN2 will also have coverage of Whitecaps FC immediately following NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Toyota Owners 400. Dallas Cowboys Trysten Hill Jersey .com) - James van Riemsdyk had two goals with one assist to help the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.OAKLAND, Calif. - Carson Palmer was happy to get a chance to come back to the Oakland Coliseum after enjoying his brief stint here with the Raiders.The result of his comeback game made the day even sweeter.Palmer threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and the Arizona Cardinals sent the Raiders to their 12th straight loss with a 24-13 victory Sunday.Its a great environment to play, Palmer said. This place is awesome. This place is great when youre wearing the silver and black and its a great place to play as an opponent. Great to get in here and get a win.Stepfan Taylor caught one touchdown and ran for another and Andre Ellington gained 160 yards from scrimmage for the Cardinals (5-1), who are off to their best start since 1976.Its just good to be in the drivers seat in our division, receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. Its a long year. Its only Week 7. We have a long way to go.Darren McFadden ran for a touchdown for the Raiders (0-6), who are off to their worst start to a season since losing their first 13 games in 1962 — the year before late owner Al Davis joined the franchise.This is as bad as youre going to get through the first part of the season, safety Charles Woodson said. We havent won a game. How much worse can it get than that, than not winning a game?While the Raiders are the NFLs only winless team and in the midst of their worst stretch in more than a half-century, the first-place Cardinals are playing some of their best football in years.Palmer and a stiff defence are the big reasons. Despite throwing Arizonas first interception of the season, Palmer has mostly avoided the big mistakes that often doomed him during his year and a half in Oakland.He also has shown the ability to make the key throw, with his two biggest being a 33-yard touchdown pass to Michael Floyd in the second quarter and a 22-yarder to John Brown on third-and-8 late in the fourth. That set up Chandler Catanzaros 41-yard field goal that sealed the win with 29 seconds to go.Ellington, who was slowed by a rib injury, had 24 carries for 88 yards and caught six passes for 72 more yards to take pressure off Palmer.Theres always a lot of energy and pent-up emotion when you come back and play against somebody, coach Bruce Arians said.dddddddddddd I didnt want that to happen to him, to have to go out here and win this ballgame.Rookie Derek Carr struggled to find the big plays he had last week when he threw four touchdown passes in a 31-28 loss to San Diego. He hit one deep pass to Brice Butler, but most of his other completions were short. Carr went 16 for 28 for 173 yards.The Raiders fell behind 14-0 early, but cut it to 14-13 midway through the third period when Sebastian Janikowski hit a 53-yard field goal with new holder Matt Schaub. The Raiders made the switch after Janikowski struggled with punter Marquette King and then missed a 53-yard field goal last week.Ellington then keyed a big drive for Arizona, running for 40 yards, catching a 16-yard pass and drawing a 20-yard pass interference penalty on Miles Burris. Taylor replaced him and scored on a 4-yard run.The Raiders were unable to cross midfield on their final three drives and lost again.Palmer arrived in Oakland with much fanfare after the Raiders dealt a first- and second-round pick to Cincinnati midway through the 2011 season. But Palmer was not able to turn the Raiders into a playoff team, falling one game short his first season, and was traded following the 2012 season.Palmer got off to a fast start, throwing the two first-half touchdowns, including Floyds leaping grab over Tarell Brown. The Cardinals picked Oakland apart on third downs, converting 9 of 14 chances.Its like one of those things where you dont know what the problem is, defensive tackle Antonio Smith said. Each week youre going in trying to fix something and each week you wonder why its not working.But Carr got the Raiders back into it with a 55-yard deep strike to Butler that set up McFaddens 1-yard score. Janikowski added a field goal late in the first half after Charles Woodson intercepted Palmer.NOTES: Catanzaro tied Greg Zuerleins rookie record by making his 15th straight kick to start his career. ... 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