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Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Tom Crabtree also applauded Sam's decision:

Good for Michael Sam. Takes courage for where he is in his career and where we are as a league. I applaud him.

— Tom Crabtree (@itsCrab) February 10, 2014

The NFL also issued a statement in support of Sam.

\"We admire Michael Sam's honesty and courage,\" the NFL said in statement. \"Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014.\"

But some NFL coaches and executives who spoke to Sports Illustrated after the announcement said they thought Sam's draft stock would be hurt by the news.

\"I don't think football is ready for [an openly gay player] just yet,\" said an NFL player personnel assistant. \"In the coming decade or two, it's going to be acceptable, but at this point in time it's still a man's-man game. To call somebody a [gay slur] is still so commonplace. It'd chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room.\"

There have been several NFL players who came out, but only after their careers were over.

Basketball player Jason Collins revealed his homosexuality in an article published on Sports Illustrated's website in April. The former Washington Wizards center was a free agent at the time, and has not been signed by any NBA team this year.

Major League Soccer star and U.S. national team player Robbie Rogers also came out a year ago.

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