The questioning process at the NFL Combine will be undergoing scrutiny as some NFL scouts may have crossed the line. After their workouts, prospective NFL players told the media that they were asked about their sexual orientation. The question many players said they were asked was, “do you like girls?” The New York attorney general has urged the NFL to take a look at the process by which these players are interviewed.
Players like Michigan’s play caller Denard Robinson, Colorado tight end Nick Kasa, and Michigan State running back Le’Veon Bell all indicated that they had been asked about their sexual orientation while in Indianapolis for the Combine.
Commissioner Roger Goodell has publicly made it clear that these types of questions are ‘unacceptable’ and should be eliminated during the interview with the college players. Goodell has said that the league plans to make it clear by discussing what types of questions you can and cannot ask at this week’s owner meetings. By doing so, Goodell hopes that this will “solve the problem.”
With regard to the scouting process, what could sexual orientation possibly have to do with on-field performance? Unless there is some study that correlates homosexuality with NFL skills and ability, not one NFL scout can claim that this question is valid. As with any other employment law, players are not allowed to be discriminated based on race, gender, or sexual orientation, the NFL is no different.
Two players that have been very vocal about the situation are Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Vikings Chris Kluwe. Both football players have been strong supporters of full marriage equality, fighting against National Organization for Marriage, which ran and funded the unsuccessful anti-gay marriage campaigns that were on the Minnesota and Maryland ballots last November.
While the league is not against allowing gay players, there have been some instances of stereotyping and gay slurs being reported in the media. Recall Media Day at the Super Bowl when Chris Culliver told reporters that he “would not accept an openly gay player on his team.” Comments like the ones Culliver made as well as the questionable interview tactics displayed by team scouts are ideally what the league needs to eliminate.
Brendon Ayanbadejo is not gay. He is married to a wife, with children, but is a staunch supporter of gay rights.
Culliver is just some guy who will have to deal when the time comes. He’s got every right to give a teammate the cold shoulder and fume quietly in front of his locker. Lots of reasons not to like the people with whom you work. As long as he doesn’t escalate things to the level of harassment big whoop. Sparky Anderson once claimed that most big leaguers disliked 5 of the 24 other guys in his own clubhouse. Just one more excuse to be a dick to other people.
They will have to watch what they do as far as hazing, though.