Lovie Weighs In On Dungy Drama
July 22nd, 2014
So you probably know by now that the national media has its panties all twisted up over Tony Dungy’s comments claiming he wouldn’t draft openly gay defensive end Michael Sam because he wouldn’t want to deal with the distraction to his team.
Endless media types have been making all kinds of assumptions and have ascribed all kinds of motives to Dungy’s take, which was offered to veteran Tampa Tribune scribe eye-RAH! Kaufman months ago but only published this week.
Father Dungy has since clarified his remarks.
On Monday afternoon while on vacation with my family, I was quite surprised to read excerpts from an interview I gave several weeks ago related to this year’s NFL Draft, and I feel compelled to clarify those remarks.
I was asked whether I would have drafted Michael Sam and I answered that I would not have drafted him. I gave my honest answer, which is that I felt drafting him would bring much distraction to the team. At the time of my interview, the Oprah Winfrey reality show that was going to chronicle Michael’s first season had been announced.
I was not asked whether or not Michael Sam deserves an opportunity to play in the NFL. He absolutely does.
I was not asked whether his sexual orientation should play a part in the evaluation process. It should not.
I was not asked whether I would have a problem having Michael Sam on my team. I would not.
I have been asked all of those questions several times in the last three months and have always answered them the same way—by saying that playing in the NFL is, and should be, about merit.
The best players make the team, and everyone should get the opportunity to prove whether they’re good enough to play. That’s my opinion as a coach. But those were not the questions I was asked.
What I was asked about was my philosophy of drafting, a philosophy that was developed over the years, which was to minimize distractions for my teams. …
My sincere hope is that we will be able to focus on his play and not on his sexual orientation.” … You can read more via the link above.
Blah, blah, blah, Joe doesn’t give much of a hoot about all this.
Lots of players out of college present a potential distraction to an NFL team. If they’re extremely talented, they’ll be drafted by someone regardless. Sams was drafted by the Rams, and St. Louis will have its share of media distractions as a result but have decided Sams is worth it. For Joe, that’s where the story starts and ends.
Lovie Smith was asked about Father Dungy’s comments this morning on ESPN Radio.
“Tony is a man of conviction,” Lovie said. “He says what’s on his mind. So I’m not going to try to critique what Tony said. I’m sure Tony would evaluate all players and he felt like, if taking everything into consideration, if they could help his team win, he would take them on [his] team.
“That’s how we look at it [on the 2014 Buccaneers]. We evaluated all the players. There are pluses and minuses for every football player.”
Lovie went on to say a college prospect becoming a potential distraction is one of many factors he considers when evaluating players.
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Dungy is just a really boring analyst. Analysis is not his strong point. again, analysis is not it. ANALYSIS is not his strong point.
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Dammit Joe this is why I love your site
“Blah, blah, blah, Joe doesn’t give much of a hoot about all this.” “For Joe, that’s where the story starts and ends.”
A few more days til training camp and we will forget about all this media junk.
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:49 pm
Let’s not make fun of Joe’s sponsors. Thanks. –Joe
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:50 pm
Right on Dungy!
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Should be based on merit but don’t draft the guy over “distraction.
Love Dungy, but disagree about this.
It was a “distraction” when the schools were integrated and black players played in the South or when Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers.
Not a legit reason not to hire a person IMO.
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Certain segments of the media are not going to allow Fisher to cut Sams without labeling him a homophobe. Even if he does it for all the right reasons. This is why Dungy would not have selected Sams, and I have to agree.
Watch, if Sams is cut you’ll probably see billboards constructed all across America calling for Fisher’s job by activist media groups.
Can you say Hot (frickin) Potato. …NO THANKS!!!
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…………
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Hey joe off topic but since the rookies report early this week, are you going to be there and give us practice notes?
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:50 pm
I agree with Tony and also the dude was a 7th round pick for a reason
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:53 pm
If you don’t put gay people on a pedestal and
worship them then you’re a fundamentally bad person
who deserves the derision of society or worse.
Right? Am I right? Who’s with me?
Sheeple, let me hear you say “Hay-o”!
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Sheesh it’s getting to the point where you can’t give a yes or no answer to a question without someone trying to portray you as a racist, a bigot, a homophobe, xenophobe, etc etc. Dungy gave his opinion, could it be in part due to his Christian faith…dunno, but I wouldn’t assume that either. nevertheless his opinion has no bearing on Michael Sam’s future in the NFL, so it’s a who cares moment for me.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Lost in the scrum is the media circus and reality show Sams planned with Oprah. Really, have we forgotten the ESPN kissy face episode 1 bit already? Even the Rams and or Fisher put the kibosh on the show because the intent is to build team unity and win games. It’s the NFL after all.
I’m sick of social re-engineering via the media and the way they demonize people to drive traffic.
Last I checked, Father Dungy is the same steady, humble and honest guy he’s been for decades.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:20 pm
Why doesn’t anyone ever question why Michael Sam doesn’t just put his head down and get to work. Enough with the ESPN interviews and reality shows.
If he really want’s to make some progress on the behalf of gay athletes he should shut up and worry about being a good football player. Why not show players and coaches that you’re no different from any other player?
Tony Dungy just said what everyone else is thinking and frankly people who are acting outraged are just media types trying to stir up trouble/
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:27 pm
If i was the owner if a nfl team i wouldn’t want him either. After a great play he might want to hug the qb or get excited in the shower and want to play swords. This could be a BIG distraction!
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:35 pm
Please, nobody gives a damn about what you do behind closed doors which is all the coming out mess tells us about a person.
Your head coach doesn’t care if you can help him win games, Tony is 200% entitled to his opinions and people need to piss off if they’re offended.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:44 pm
@Tom E. … How can it be a sin if you are born that way?
July 22nd, 2014 at 5:05 pm
If the Rams didn’t want him to do that, they could very easily stop it. No one can get into Rams Park without being granted access or simply breaking in. Not sure any news organization wants to go through the implications of breaking and entering.
July 22nd, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Lots of people dying to be heard on message boards..
Dungy said nothing wrong.
Go search out some real bad stuff like the sick voyeur you are to pat yourself on the back about condemning.
July 22nd, 2014 at 5:55 pm
We all should know how distractions can affect a team. This guy just seems like nothing but a distraction. Coming out on ESPN, TV shows before even playing a game? This guy is clearly wanting the attention.
July 22nd, 2014 at 6:34 pm
Dungy has pretty much had his point validated…….
July 22nd, 2014 at 6:40 pm
Risk vs Reward! I agree. Thought it was in poor form for Sams to allow all the hype about his sexual orientation. I don’t care! Can you play?
July 22nd, 2014 at 6:42 pm
Sick and tired of being told by lefty media types how I should think,what I should feel , what I can and can’t say and what’s right and wrong. If your opinion isn’t in total agreement with how the pea brained libs see things you WILL be targeted and destroyed. They are anything but “inclusive”. Trying to tear down Coach is a tragedy. Hopefully such a virtuous man can overcome this cowardly attack.
July 22nd, 2014 at 6:57 pm
SAMCRO you’re exactly right, the liberal media especially will crucify anyone not 100% on board with whether they would’ve drafted Sams or not, any conservative take on this issue will be scrutinized and allow the pile on to begin!
July 22nd, 2014 at 7:00 pm
I have zero problem with Sam or any other gay person pursuing whatever job or whatever it is they want. That being said, people that do have issues with homosexuals can no longer express being uncomfortable without being labeled bigots or anti-gay or hate mongers, etc.
Seriously, I respect everybody’s rights, including those that don’t embrace somebody that they feel engages in something that is morally wrong to them. Everybody should have rights.
Dungy’s religious, did anybody actually expect him to say he would love to have Sam?
And as much as I hope Sam does well and has success and is known for being a good NFL player that just happens to be gay, I completely understand Dungy’s point. What I don’t understand is how he is getting creamed for expressing his opinion on not wanting distractions on his team, especially if they aren’t particularly good to begin with. I mean, if Adrian Peterson was gay and he wanted to and could play for the Bucs I would be way on board, but Sam isn’t worth the media exposure, why else is it so hard for the NFL to get a team to do Hardknocks? It’s a distraction.
July 22nd, 2014 at 7:41 pm
“That being said, people that do have issues with homosexuals can no longer express being uncomfortable without being labeled bigots or anti-gay or hate mongers, etc.”
If they’re anti gay then they’re anti gay…that’s just a factual statement.
If you wish to define bigotry then you open a real can of worms.
This is about religion pure and simple. If Jon Gruden said this everybody would take him at face value. Everybody knows Gruden doesn’t care squat about a player other than can he produce.
Odds are this franchise wouldn’t have even had Warren Sapp if Dungy had arrived a year earlier when Wyche drafted Sapp despite the weed.
If Dungy was truly worried about “distractions” he wouldn’t have pimped so hard for Michael the dog killing Vick.
Yes everybody is entitled to their views. Including racists and bigots. But they are not entitled to expect no reaction to those views.
Just as Dungy was certainly entitled to those views I’m entitled to be tired of getting proselytized by the Christians. Being self righteous and sanctimonious is not really all that appealing.
73% of this nation self ID as Christians. I’m happy for them. The vast majority are incredible humans. But a significant % are just freaking wack.
That % somehow believes we non believers are going to take over…or worse that the Muslims will inflict Sharia Law. Islam is the third largest religion behind Judaism and Christianity. So Christians…73% Muslims .8%..less than 1%. The Christians will always be the dominant force. They will always get their views aired. I’m just tired of being preached at by people who don’t respect my beliefs but demand I respect theirs.
July 22nd, 2014 at 7:55 pm
“If the Rams didn’t want him to do that, they could very easily stop it. No one can get into Rams Park without being granted access or simply breaking in. Not sure any news organization wants to go through the implications of breaking and entering.”
Ok, well that has nothing to do with what I’m talking about.
He held a press conference to announce he was gay, had an ESPN camera in his house on draft day when he was never projected to go higher than the 3rd round and he is doing a reality show on Oprah’s network.
It’s not a question of what the Rams can or cannot stop. If a player, gay or otherwise, wants to be treated as any other player then those aren’t the types of things he should be doing as a 7th round drafted rookie.
If he wants to be like any other player then he should act like it. Otherwise don’t be shocked when someone says they would have an issue with the distraction.
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:08 pm
I’ll give my pat response to all Michael Sam stories: Cool story, bro.
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:11 pm
This website isn’t the only one I visit for news and articles pertaining to the Bucs. I also spend a decent amount of time over at Bucsnation. Unfortunately, Sander Philipse decided to use Bucsnation to tear down Coach Dungy as well as Leslie Frasier, writing a post that currently has over 800 replies.
While I don’t always agree with the content or the views that Joe posts on this site, at least he doesn’t use it to further the left-wing and LGBT agenda by admonishing and demonizing one of the most loved coaches in Buccaneer history.
Playing in the NFL should be based on merit, and Dungy is entitled to whatever opinion he might have, without being labeled as a bigot, or worse. Let’s keep the football forums to football people. Keep up the good work, Joe.
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Yaaaaaaawnnnn. Can we have some football now, PLEASE?
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:51 pm
“Playing in the NFL should be based on merit, and Dungy is entitled to whatever opinion he might have”
You were off to a good start before you went off the rails. Dungy said nothing about Sam’s ability in his first statement. Dungy was clearly referring to the fact that a gay player in the NFL is historic. We may not like that from either side of the divide. The homophobes hate that this has happened. The Gays hate that it is historic and not already no big deal.
Someday this will not be a story. But Sams will always be in the history books. No not for his football skills, but in the history books never the less regardless of how he plays.
BTW if Sams gets cut and there is no “backlash” I certainly hope the posters who are already whining in advance of his cut will come back to admit their mistake.
July 22nd, 2014 at 9:15 pm
All of this media attention just goes to prove Dungy’s point. Anytime anyone bring’s up Sam’s name, a firestorm of insanity will ensue. I can’t turn on ESPN today because its the only thing they will talk about
July 22nd, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Razor…Not everyone on the Left supports Michael Sam. It’s not political to me. It’s just the way I believe and I’m entitled to my beliefs. That said, if he can play ball, he has every right to do just that. I just don’t want it thrown in my face. Lets talk football and leave it at that.
July 22nd, 2014 at 9:48 pm
Great rant StPeteBucsFan
I am with ya!
“I’m just tired of being preached at by people who don’t respect my beliefs but demand I respect theirs.”
July 22nd, 2014 at 10:04 pm
Eric,
You’re waaaayyyyy off base. Racial integration in sports and Michael Sam coming out are nowhere close to the same. Nobody is stopping Sam from playing football. Dungy is just saying the talent(or lack thereof) is not worth the headache of constant non-sports media constantly peppering the coach and players with questions about their gay teammate rather than football. Sam in my opinion loves the media attention and is infatuated with being a martyr. He could have simply released a statement to lift the weight off his shoulders and in same statement concluded it by saying “With that said, I will not answer any further questions regarding my sexual orientation. I am now focused on becoming the best football player I can be”. Would have still been the 1st openly gay player, but guarantee his teammates and organization would have much more respect for him without him trying to do reality shows and kissing his boyfriend in front of a national tv audience probably 90% or more straight. And before I’m labeled a homophobe, I’m far from it. I couldn’t care less what anyone does in their personal life. But Sam CAUSED all the distractions with his actions when in my opinion the whole thing could have been handled with much more tact.
July 23rd, 2014 at 12:46 am
Judge me however you like, but I would not have draafted Sams whether he was a distraction or not.
Partly because he is gay. Mainly because he is a bust in waiting. A waste of a pick.
Now, people may not agree with my views, but it doesn’tt matter. I’m as entitled to my views as anyone is entitled to their own. That’s why it’s a free country.
July 23rd, 2014 at 12:50 am
Part of me wonders if Sams didn’t come out BECAUSE he knows he won’t be successful as a player so he can cry descrimination when he gets cut.
July 23rd, 2014 at 1:18 am
Two words
CONVICTION
July 23rd, 2014 at 1:20 am
Anyone who compares someones skin color to whether someone likes males or females is out of their skulls lol
July 23rd, 2014 at 1:48 am
“That being said, people that do have issues with homosexuals can no longer express being uncomfortable without being labeled bigots or anti-gay or hate mongers, etc.”
Exactly, use all the semantics you want people. It’s hypocrisy at its finest.
“I’m allowed to express my belief in homosexuality, yet I will tear you down if you express yours back to me.”
The whole victim mentality is a lose lose lol. It’s a sad world.
Ahahahahaha, so sad. And no it was not about religion it was about the circus he was bringing to town. The circus although they may be following him declaring him some kind of hero because of the whole gay thing they in themselves is what he wanted to prevent. Not that that he was a gay player.
July 23rd, 2014 at 4:39 am
-Fixed it as best I could, I confused myself with mess at the end there in the above post lol.
*It was not about religion, it was about the circus. The circus… following him around declaring him some kind of hero (I’m sure with good intentions) because of the whole gay thing, they in themselves is what Dungy wanted to prevent. The unwanted, unnecessary attention on one player just because he likes other men. The unrelenting, media madness revolving around the fact he’s gay. It was not about religion or Sam himself as a person being gay.
Sure he doesn’t believe in homosexuality, so what?
I’m sure there are many things we can come up with we don’t like or believe in individually that we wouldn’t consider ourselves haters of or legit activists against..That you feel strongly enough to state your conviction about yet do it in a respectful manner.
It is very possible for him to state his belief and not have some kind of evil scheme behind it against homosexuals lol.
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:09 am
Oh the irony of the media making his point for him. And the dumb ass drive by’s dont even know they are doing it.
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:24 am
First, some clarification: Michael Sams is NOT the first openly gay player in the NFL. David Kopay was, and he played in the 70’s.
There are a lot of interesting takes on this topic; religion, sexual orientation, free speech, media, etc…
Where are we going as a society? Does the 1st amendment NOT afford us the right to free speech? Can we no longer give our opinion without fear of retribution?
Every day a politician stands in front of his/her constituents and bold-face lies about the importance of “freedom” and democracy while they manipulate the law to line their pockets. Is a man truly free who must first check to make sure they don’t offend the delicate sensitivities of each and every person? Is a man free who must endure the slanderous hypocrisy of being labeled a bigot or homophobe?
Whatever happened to saying what you mean and mean what you say? Can we no longer communicate our true convictions?
This story is so utterly absurd, I can’t stand it. This is America people, this is what sells. If you haven’t figured out yet that the media/news is a business and that the word “news” is open to interpretation then I feel sorry for you. This isn’t about Dungy, this is about a slow news cycle with nothing to report. Hell, THIS ISN’T NEWS, PERIOD!
Sorry for the rant. I just can’t stand it!
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:57 am
If I remember correctly there was a lot of media coverage of Dungy and Lovie when they coached in the Super Bowl concerning the fact they were both African Americans.
Why didn’t Dungy consider that a “distraction” and not coach the game?
July 23rd, 2014 at 9:23 am
@Eric- All media driven. It’s only news because they say it is. It’s one of the reasons racism will never go away, we have to label everybody. Why was it necessary to point out the fact that they were two black coaches? Thank you Captain Obvious! Who cares? We are all Americans.
It’s the same with Sam, who cares. Can the dude play football?
July 23rd, 2014 at 9:28 am
Absolutely it was a distraction when Jackie Robinson played. Guess what the difference is: the perceived talent level.
While its true that we have NO idea how Sam will do on the professional level, his combine performances left a lot to be desired and I’m not going to pretend i know how to evaluate talent like the people that get paid to do it. If all the other teams (INCLUDING the Rams) thought his talent matched the possible level of distraction, there is NO way he would’ve lasted til the 7th round.
If Clowney, would’ve “come out”, do you think he still wouldn’t have been a first round pick?
July 23rd, 2014 at 10:09 am
But Dungy stated he wouldn’t draft the guy because of the distractions.
He should be the last person to take that position given the number of times he was passed over because of his race. If he is good enough he has the right to pursue his profession.
Should the bucs not have drafted Doug Williams because there was controversy at that time over black quarterbacks?
Anybody who lived in Tampa at that time knows of the God awful and bigoted things that were said about Doug, mainly that “colored folks” (I wont type the commonly used racial slur) didn’t have the intellect to play the position. It was rampant and disgusting.
If this man is good enough he should be in the league, and not prevented from doing so because the media covers that he is in the league.
Conversely, if he isn’t good enough he should be cut.
July 23rd, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Your comparing two completely different things and throwing it out there like it must be accepted like it’s on the same playing field. I for one say bush league, that argument can only be held with people who accept that. I don’t.
Getting attention for getting to a Superbowl and making it into black sports history or as a first for any “race” of people for that matter is something to be celebrated and it IS NOT a negative distraction at that.
Being a man and saying you like men has absolutely zero comparison to skin color.
That is some real real twisted logic, nasty logic lol.
Just because there is a group that is fighting for a cause in which they want the world to accept them as homosexuals it DOES NOT put them on par with a group of people that went through (and still are in some countries) slavery because of their skin color.
Sorry, it’s a desperate attempt to grab onto something to make it relevant.
July 23rd, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Oh Puhleeze I see we have someone Sarah Palin stupid here.
The First Amendment prevents the GOVERNMENT from censoring speech. It has nothing to do with the REACTION to comments from the public.
NOBODY has suggested that Dungy didn’t have the right to say what he said. People are simply analyzing his remarks…which if I were Sarah Palin stooopid I’d say is our First Amendment Right.
For example…at any time Joe decides to censor one of us he can and it’s NOT a violation of our First Amendment rights. It’s his right as operator of this site. Now if the Federal Gov’t comes in and censors one of us THAT is a First Amendment right!
July 23rd, 2014 at 3:51 pm
No one has to accept anything what im talking about is whether the man has a right to work.
Last i looked the nfl is not a religious organization.
Thus they ought not discriminate in the workplace based on sexusl orientation as Dungy would do.
July 23rd, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Razor123 Said:
“Sick and tired of being told by lefty media types how I should think,what I should feel , what I can and can’t say and what’s right and wrong. If your opinion isn’t in total agreement with how the pea brained libs see things you WILL be targeted and destroyed. They are anything but “inclusive”. Trying to tear down Coach is a tragedy. Hopefully such a virtuous man can overcome this cowardly attack.”
If you check your political history, you’ll see that it’s the neocons that are always concerned about what goes on behind closed doors. Just sayin.
July 23rd, 2014 at 5:55 pm
The Discrimination isn’t against a homosexual, it’s against the media.
Everyday, every player will have to answer questions about Sam…Not related to football.
Everyday, every coach will have to answer questions about Sam…Not related to football.
They will have Martha Raddatz types all over asking stupid questions that have nothing to do with football.
What if a 7th rounder ends up sucking? If he sucks, and they cut him, let God have mercy on their soul, because the nutjob liberal media, that knows less about football than Glennon haters (had to throw that in) will throw this team to the wolves.
Is that worth a 7th round talent? Absolutely not.
Is that worth a 1st round talent? Damn right it is.