CLEVELAND -- Once Michael Sam is drafted in the NFL, the Missouri defensive end will be judged strictly on whether he can play and whether he can help his team win. Brandon Williams Jersey . Everything else -- even that hes gay -- will be trivial. As the first openly homosexual player to enter the draft, Sam could face scrutiny unlike any player before him. But many of the greatest players and coaches in football history dont believe hell be subjected to any hatred, harassment, discrimination or bullying by teammates. "I dont think hell have any problem in the locker room. I dont think hell have any problems on the field," said Hall of Fame offensive tackle Art Shell. "The one thing about football players, theyre inclusive. They will take you for who you are, not what people try to portray you as. "Its who you are: Youre a football player, then you can play with us. I dont see that as being a problem in the National Football League." Shells stance was shared by several other Hall of Famers, including Lions running back Barry Sanders, Buffalo coach Marv Levy, and Giants linebacker Harry Carson, who appeared along with nearly 100 other inductees at a two-day "Fan Fest," the largest gathering ever of football legends outside Canton, Ohio. Sanders, who retired at the peak of his career following the 1998 season with 15,269 career yards rushing, believes theres an unwritten code among football players to ignore anything other than a persons skills and talents. "From the time youre a kid and you start playing, youre almost programmed for Can a guy play or not?" he said. "By the time you get to the NFL, thats well ingrained. Im pretty sure every guy in this league has been around gay individuals before, and so I dont think it will be much different." Sams courageous decision to reveal his sexual orientation was an important personal milestone. It was also an historic moment for the NFL and all major sports as it provides a deeper reflection of societys openness and willingness to accept his individuality. Sams revelation may not have been met with such overwhelming approval just a few years ago. In the macho arena that is pro football, Sam may have been an outcast in previous generations. "Hes a very bold guy to come out," said cornerback Michael Haynes, a nine-time Pro Bowler elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997. "The timing is good. If hed done that in the 60s or 70s, maybe not so good because everybody was really struggling with how to understand differences like that in people. "Diversity has become a critical topic, people are talking about it all the time and I think the world is different. Remember Magic Johnson with AIDS? It starts with education. Hell be judged on football." Carson, who retired in 1988 after 13 seasons in New York, said he was "proud" of Sam for choosing to be open about his sexuality. Carson recalled that one of his Giants teammates, offensive lineman Roy Simmons, was suspected as being gay and was never ostracized. "It never really swayed anyones opinion of him," Carson said. "But its something he lived with and he didnt have to by himself because he had teammates, and the teammates he had were guys who supported him. Even though he never said anything, were a team and guys on the team who are unselfish are going to support their teammates regardless of how they choose to live their lives." Simmons, the first player to acknowledge he was HIV positive, died early this year. He was 57. Its possible there will be some awkwardness for Sam in the locker room, where he could be subjected to jokes and playful ribbing. Sanders believes those days are long gone. "Guys are more forward thinking than you think," he said. "It helps that hes a big guy. No one will mess with him." The 6-foot-2, 261-pound Sam has been projected to be drafted from the third round on. Sam didnt perform well on the field at the scouting combine, where he calmly handled tough questions about his decision to "come out." Levy, who led the Bills to four straight Super Bowls, said his criteria before deciding to draft Sam would be pretty simple. "Is he the best guy at his position when were on the board, and do we need a guy at that position?" the 89-year-old Levy said. "If so, Ill take him. Id like to know his character qualities and other things, but that would not factor into my decision." If he were coaching a team that selected Sam, Levy said he would not feel any need to address his players. That may not have been the case 10 or 20 years ago. "I wouldnt make an issue of it," Levy said. "I think society has adjusted to the point where its an acceptable thing and why make an issue of it? That would be my approach. Things change, plus Ive got to worry about how to pick up the blitz." Rudy Ford Jersey . -- The Orlando Magic have made no secret that the future of their franchise will depend on how well they can develop their young players. Chad Williams Jersey . With the results, North America claimed 2.5 of the three available points, opening up a 17.5-12.5 lead in the overall standings. A total of 60 points are available, meaning the first team to 30.5 points will win the Continental Cup. http://www.cheapcardinalsjerseysonline.com/?tag=carson-palmer-jersey-online . Two-time Olympic bronze medallists Savchenko and Szolkowy received 79.02 points to finish ahead of world bronze medallists Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada, who had 77.01 points.LONDON - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would like to see the NFL put a team in London.Jones, one of the most outspoken owners in professional sports, is in Britain to watch his team face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.On a personal basis, and speaking for the Dallas Cowboys, we very much would like a team in London, Jones said Thursday. It has cachet. It has an air about it of international competition.London is one of probably two or three cities outside the United States that really does have all of the criteria that I would look at for having an NFL team. I certainly know that one of the reasons were here this week playing Sunday is to help encourage interest and increase the interest in the game, increase the interest in the awareness of our game.The NFL has been playing regular-season games at Wembley, the home of Englands national soccer team, since 2007. This season, there are three games, culminating on Sunday with the Cowboys (6-3) and the Jaguars (1-8).On Thursday, the NFL announced that there will be another three games next season, starting with the Miami Dolphins playing the New York Jets on Oct. 4 in the first-ever division game in England.NFL officials have said they envisage having a franchise in London one day, though no time frame has been announced and several logistical issues would need tto be resolved. Ricky Seals-Jones Jersey. he Jaguars, owned by American billionaire Shad Khan, are also on the schedule for next season, and played in London last season as well. They have agreed to a four-year deal to come to London, so theyll be back in 2016.His imagination is welcomed. His business acumen is really welcome, Jones said of Khan. I know that hes a progressive thinker. Certainly his interest that he has in playing here and potentially being involved more so in the future is one that were all aware of.For the Cowboys, who have played several exhibition games overseas, this is the first time theyll be playing for real outside the United States. And against the Jaguars, Dallas will technically be the visiting team.The problem we have is that we dont want to forgo a home game, Jones said. As youre well aware, we dont play many games relative to other sports, and so thats not something that were interested in doing.But our away game, and our ability to play away, has always been a consideration, something that we would do.That doesnt mean that Jones isnt a fan of Britain, or the monarchy.One of the greatest feelings that I have is the picture of Princess Di and her young men there with Cowboy jerseys on, Jones said. 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