This might be the closest thing to a controversial soundbite that we will ever hear from former Detroit Lions great, Barry Sanders.
Arguably the greatest running back of all-time (his father would tell you he’s not), was always extremely quiet. He simply handed the ball of to officials whenever he scored, and never said anything that the media could turn into a story. So it was a bit surprising when he responded to TMZ upon his arrival in New Orleans for the Super Bowl when they asked him about what a gay player in the NFL in light of the recent controversy caused by the San Francisco 49ers Chris Culliver with his homophobic comments.
“In the locker room, you get teased for anything,” Sanders said. “If somebody comes out, they’re going to get teased. But they’ve got to have thick skin and go on about their life.”
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Not exactly eye-raising by normal standards, but I would have expected some fancy dancing around the question from Barry like he used to do to defenders on Sunday. But he is pretty honest about it. NFL players tease each about everything.
The best part of the video is Barry stopping mid-thought on a couple occasions to either take pictures or acknowledge nearby fans. Always the class act.
He’s an idiot. A person’s sexual orientation should not be teased by grown men. I’ve just lost a lot of respect for Barry Sanders.
He’s just being realistic in regard to what goes on in a locker room. Like he said everyone gets teased about everything. Making a rookie travel through an airport in a dress might not be right, but it happens.
It’s all part of humbling a rookie, so he isn’t so full of himself.
Teasing is acceptable. Intolerance is not.
What Cabbage said. If someone came out, they would get razzed a little, but not in a disrespectful manner. Guys get teased for a lot of personal stuff that goes public all of a sudden. I have beef with what he said.
For example. I am sure Antonio Cromartie was teased for fathering a ton of kids and struggling to remember their names.