victor blackwell has more on michael sam's next step. >> reporter: with the historic pick of michael sam, the reaction was immediate in st. louis, and from president obama. >> with the 249th pick of the 2014 nfl draft, the st. louis rams select michael sam, defensive end, missouri. >> reporter: with that announcement, michael sam becomes the first openly gay player drafted by the national football league. he got the news by telephone from the rams head coach jeff fisher, who told him you are a ram, the wait is finally over. for the all-american defensive end from missouri, it was an emotional moment. >> i am overwhelmed. i'm excited, and i'm proud to be a ram. i knew he was going to get picked somewhere. and every team that passed me, i was thinking how i'm almost their cornerback. >> reporter: president obama said from the playing field to the corporate boardroom, lgbt americans prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are. the nba's jason collins who became the first openly gay athlete in any of the major four american sports when he came out in 2013

the rams are embracing michael sam.ing something he tweeted. >> there may have been teams that looked in the other direction from him, the rams are going to benefit from picking him. the rams are going to benefit from all across the country in different ways. they may end up being even happier about the decision than they would be for that reason. >> so, jay, he brings up a very good point. don't you think that some of the teams who passed on him may have seen that kiss and said, see, boy, we did not have to deal with that. >> yeah, and by the way, they're not saying he did not do well at the combine. i hate to say this, but i don't know if that's true or not. but they say they have times and strength tests and say he did not do well in the combine. i also believe and go back to jeff fisher again. i believe that jeff fisher spoke to team leaders and his ownership. they do all of this research. and i think the other teams looked at their locker rooms and -- if you have a locker room filled with evangelical football playe

louis rams select michael sam, defensive end, missouri. >> and then the reaction from michael sam himselfible ] >> the reaction to that instantly iconic man when michael sam celebrated by kissing his boyfriend went two fays. fans inside music radio hall were head chanting his name. even president obama said in a statement, from the playing field to the board room, lbgt americans prove every day you should be judged by what you do, not who you are. the other side, i'm not watching this espn until this michael sam story dies. it's got. cameron, take me through what you guys were thinking in saturday morning, into midday saturday, friday when it was getting very, very close to the end of this draft and looking like your client might not make it. >> you know, tensions were high. it often gets that way on draft day. obviously the stakes were higher here though. we were just continuing to put feelers out there, talk to people we knew on the inside and trying to get an accurate gauge of where michael was going to go. >> what was the atmosphere in the room like, as the possibility of not getting

michael sam's agent joins me next.e narrator: the mattress price wars are on the mattress price wars are on at sleep train. we challenged the manufacturers to offer even lower prices. now it's posturepedic versus beautyrest with big savings of up to $400 off. serta icomfort and tempur-pedic go head-to-head with three years' interest-free financing. plus, free same-day delivery, set-up, and removal of your old set. when brands compete, you save. mattress price wars are on now at sleep train. ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ >>> the nfl draft has become this big television event. it gets bigger every year. this year even more people tuning in cheering for your client. >> there was a time in this country when jackie robinson broke the color barrier, we were far ahead of the civil rights changes that happened. if people passed over mike because of his sexuality, it will signify the sports has fallen very far behind the rest of society in terms of where we're at. >> there were 256 players selected by teams in the 2

louis rams select michael sam, defensive end, missouri. >> reporter: with that announcement michael sam becomes the first openly gay player drafted by the national football league. he got the news by telephone from the rams head coach jeff fisher who told him "you are a ram. the wait is finally over." for the all-american defensive end from missouri, it was an emotional moment. >> i am overwhelmed. i'm excited and i'm proud to be a ram. i knew i was going to get picked somewhere, and every team that passed me i was thinking how i'm going to sack their quarterback. >> reporter: congratulations came from the oval office. president obama said from the playing field to the corporate board room, lgbt americans prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are. the nba's jason collins who became the first openly gay athlete in any of it the four major american sports when he came out in 2013 tweeted this comment "i wanted to say congrats to@mikesamfootball and@stlouisrams. great pick. good luck." >> he's done an outstanding job dealing with things and i believe he's

louis rams select michael sam. >> a few tears, a thank you, and a kiss. >> number 52, michael sam! >> michael sam, the 249th pick by the st. louis rams, and now the first openly gay athlete in nfl history. >> the twitter sphere reacted negatively. you've got little kids looking at the draft. i can't believe espn even allowed that to happen. and miami doll vin don jones, later fined by the team who wrote omg and horrible. to the supportive, from ellen, so proud of the st. louis rams for showing there's nothing to be afraid of. in a phone interview, sam says he's ready. >> i am overwhelmed, i am excited, and i am proud to be a ram. >> i'm extremely proud that st. louis was the team to draft him. because i mean, i love this city and i love that we were the first ones. >> reporter: the 24-year-old was the first in his family to go to college. the university of missouri, and during his career at mizzou, he recorded 123 tackles, 21 sacks, six forced fumbles and two interceptions. notable, but no guarantee. >> if you were michael sam, how would you be handling this? >> it's not going to b

some were heard chanting michael sam.dent obama said from the playing field to the corporate board you should be judged by whatot do, not who you are. the other side was predictable. i'm not going to watch two dudes kiss on a sports show. joining me is michael sam's agent, cameron weiss. take me through what your were thinking saturday morning, friday, when it was getting very, very, very close to the end of the draft and looking like your client might not make it. >> you know, tensions were high. often gets that way on draft day. the stakes were higher here. so joe and i were just continuing to put feelers out there, talk to people we knew on the inside, and trying to get an accurate gauge of where michael was going to go. >> what was the atmosphere in the room like a the possibility of not getting drafted must have entered the picture? frustration? get any beefs between people, shouldn't have come out, shouldn't have done this? i'm mad? i can imagine tensions get so high in the circumstances because you have no control

there's michael sam getting his call. et a call like that and how will sam fit in as the first openly gay player in nfl history? we'll speak with one of his teammates straight ahead. what super poligrip does for me is it keeps the food out. before those little pieces would get in between my dentures and my gum and it was uncomfortable. [ male announcer ] just a few dabs is clinically proven to seal out more food particles. [ corrine ] super poligrip is part of my life now. woman: welcome to learning. spanish in the car.c on. to seal out more food particles. passenger: you've got to be kidding me. driver: this is good. woman: vamanos. driver & passenger: vamanos. woman: gracias. driver & passenger: gracias. passenger: trece horas en el carro sin parar y no traes musica. driver: mira entra y comprame unas papitas. vo: get up to 795 miles per tank in the tdi clean diesel. the volkswagen passat. recipient of the j.d. power appeal award, two years in a row. tigers, both of you. tigers? don't be modest. i see how you've been inv

. >>> michael sam becomes the first openly gay man drafted into america's biggest football league. >> and i'm nick clark report fromming the atta clamma desert in chile, from where in 2020 a giant majellan telescope will stand, to april some of the pressing questions of the cosmos. >>> thanks for being with us. polling stations in parts of eastern ukraine are opening as separatists hold a widely condemned referendum on self-rule. the vote will be held in donetsk and luhansk, with a combined occupation of 6.7 million. only people in a dozen or so places under separatist control will vote. there has been fighting in donet donetsk, luhansk, slovyansk, among others. ballots were printed asking voters if they agree to self-rule. 70% in the east do not support the separatists and do not want to leave ukraine or become part of russia. but the polls show the majority reject the new government in kiev. the constitution doesn't allow for regional ballots, so the vote will not be binding. >> we should show you live pictures coming to us from a polling station in don esket. where there has been f

will michael sam make the team? we explore that. >> i think clearly this is the issue that the democrats have been running away from. >> democrats haven't missed it. >> the strategy for 2014 on the sunday morning talkfest. >>> an about will? it could be a landmark move. others say it's a disaster. reaction ahead. >>> msnbc's ronan farrow talks about his irish roots and a famous family member connected to hollywood ofiesteryear. >>> hello, everyone, it's "hoon in the east, 9:00 out west. here's what's happening right now. >>> 249th pick in the 2014 nfl draft, michael sam, defensive end. >> better late than never. in the seventh round with just seven picks left, michael sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted in the nfl. sam later spoke to knbc affiliate ksdk after getting the big news. >> i am overwhelmed. i'm excited. and i'm proud to be a ram. >> as the weekend went by, what were you feeling like as draft pick after draft pick went by and the picks were dwindling to a precious few? >> oh, i knew i woul

michael sam and his partner celebrated with a kiss. and for some like former giants running back der rick ward it was too much. i'm sorry that michael sam is no braino for doing that on national tv he tweeted. i'm fine with it being a new day and age but for him doing that on national tv is disgusting gay or not. he wrote. second year miami dolphins player tweeted omg, horrible expressions that got him fined and suspended by his dolphins team. joining me now to talk about that reaction, ken blackwell at the family research council and dale hansen the dean of texas sport casters who went viral with a little bit of, well an op-ed you might call it about sam going into the draft and how it might be -- how some nfl players thought it would be uncomfortable. >> it would be uncomfortable because that's a man's world. you beat a woman and drag her down a flight of stairs pulling her hair out by the roots you're the fourth guy taken in the nfl draft. you kill people while driving drunk, that guy is welcomed. players caught in hotel rooms with

michael sam revealed his sexuality to his college teammates last fall and went public in february. shortly after, he was drafted sam tweeted this photo with him wearing a new rams cap and looking pretty happy right now. >> let's talk about michael sam with commentators. nice to see you guys. so, mark, lots of talk certainly in the last 24 hours about this. even the president has you saw congratulating him. what kind of reaction will he receive practicing with the team and after that assuming he makes it? >> first of all, i think he'll make the team. i think he'll get a warm welcom from his teammates. i think that we would be naive if we were to assume there will be no problems, that there will be no locker room issues and no player that's uncomfortable but the league and the coaches and teammates are behind this move and supportive and this is a good moment for the nfl and for the nation. but let's not pretend there's not going to be sticky points. >> yeah. as we look at the video here, ben, this is him watching him get the call and learn that he is now a st. louis ram. but certainl

michael sam, the kiss.rprised that the twitter reaction was mixed with positive and negative. but with the negative, here in 2014, were you surprised by that? >> well, listen. here's where we are. if you ask people, including nchl fl players and football fans, in the abstract i think people say, if he's good enough to play, he deserves a place on the team. but when people actually start seeing it, it's fine to have him here but when you actually watch him making out and hugging -- doing the stuff that everybody else does but when it's right there in the face, it's jarring to an awful lot of people. >> well , it may be jarring but espn stayed and went back and forth with the live feed. >> can you blame them? >> no. no. >> there was a cake at one point and they are putting cake in each other's mouth. i guess we're not surprised. >> this is the way -- we are all a little goofy at moments like this. you look at the academy awards and when people look at a game and pouring champagne over each other's head. the p

sharing the moment with his boyfrien boyfriend. >> michael sam! who came out publicly in february is a former standout defensive end for the university of missouri and he talked to reporters by phone. >> i'm overwhelm and excited and proud to be a ram. >> and the ram's defensive line quinn tweeting, welcome to the squad, and franchise member eric dickerson said, welcome to the family. and the president said, thank you for taking the step forward in our nation's journey. and then there was this tweet by jones of the miami dolphins, omg. and then he was fined an undisclosed amount until he completes the sensitivity training. >> are there idiots out there to say some stupid stuff? well, that does not bother me, but i am worried a about the guy in front of me and beside me, and i have to worry about that. >> and he will get that chance, because jeff fisher said that his selection was on the merit of the field, but the team understands the importance of michael sam becoming one of them. >> i'm honor ed ed to be part o that. >> and sam said he hopes to

raised in catholic family, the world is changing and i'm happy for it. >> i wish you guys would say michael sam, how is football going? how is training going? >> reporter: the spotlight has been on sam since he came out in february. >> i just wish you would see me as michael sam the football player rather than as michael sam the gay football player. >> reporter: but after all of the accolades for his college success, talk lately shifted from his sexuality to his football skills and how his size and speed would transfer to the nfl. >> the st. louis rams select michael sam, defensive end, missouri. >> the team had to need him and not be deterred by his notoriety. >> he deserved it. >> well, maybe nobody wanted to take a chance, nobody wants to cross that barrier. >> to tell someone that i am gay shouldn't be a big problem. i have endured so much many my past. >> michael sam is beloved in missouri from his college stardom and st. louis assumes a good fit assuming he makes the team. the sportsbar owner ricky says he would love to see michael sam drop by, too. >> debora villalon. >> more details rea

plus, michael sam, a trailblazer in football. will speak with the agent for the first openly gay player drafted by an nfl team. and solar roadways -- it is trying to change the energy market. details ahead. all that ahead over the next hour, but first, let's get headlines from my radio cohost, carol massar. >> we got some retail news to tell you about -- jc penney stock blazing in after-hours. posted a loss of $1.16 a share. analysts predicted $1.22 a share. nordstrom posted first-quarter revenue and profit that topped analyst estimates. the company relied on e-commerce and outlet sales to drive up sales to nearly $3 billion. warren buffett's berkshire hathaway disclosed its share of verizon. the stake is valued at more than $528 based on today's -- more than $528 million based on today's closing price. >> thanks very much. let's get more insight on jcpenney results and its after-hours stock surge. joining me is craig johnson, the founder and president of customer growth partners. tell us your reaction to today's report from jcpe

michael sam at the combine ran a 4:9:1 in the 40. ler and heavier than sam, ran a high 4:4 at the combine. they play the same position. michael sam performed poorly in the drills that many see as being extremely important. the vertical jump which shows explosiveness. he jumped under 30 inches. i think 26 inches or something at the combine. that is not good either. teams care about production, and michael sam, all though he improved somewhat at his pro day at the university of missouri, did not produce at the nfl combine. that has hurt his stock. >> i want to really quickly ask you, wade, before i get into the advice you've given him, will the lgbt community take a nonpartisan, if that's a word for it, a look at sam at the draft? if he's not drafted, will there be an automatic sort of reaction from much of the lgbt community that it had something to do with his sexual orientation, or looked at this is the fairness result? that it doesn't matter that he was gay. >> i think the nfl is in a no-win situation almost, because if he doesn't g

michael sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by an nfl team. st. selected the university of missouri defensive end in the seventh and final round. sam was the 249th overall pick. camera crews were there when sam got the phone call which saved his life. >> there you see him on his phone. there you see the raw emotion. we've seen this so many times over and over again for so many players. >> folk, that's the game changer. millions of americans watched the nfl draft. no one bats an eye when a prospect celebrates by kissing his girlfriend or wife. the culture of sports is evolving and this moment in football will play a role in afciafc i -- affecting social change. sure, there were reactions, bust this image tells the next generation of young gay athletes it's okay to be who you are. of course, the folks across the street had an entirely different spin. >> we're talking about a double standard. because demarcus walker, who is a linebacker at florida state tweeted out this, you all praise michael sam for being gay, be uh you all mock tim tebow for being

louis rams select michael sam, defensive end, missouri. >> and pretty close to that same moment, michaelone with st. louis rams head coach jeff fisher, and you can see that moment very emotional there. his boyfriend was standing right next to him. sam talked about what it meant to him later on that night. >> i am overwhelmed. i'm excited. and i'm proud to be a ram. i knew i was going to get picked somewhere. and every team that passed me, i was thinking how i'm going to sack their quarterback. i'm proud to give everything i've got for st. louis. so many people are proud of the st. louis organization for being the one to make history. >> and the congratulations started pouring in after that. even from president barack obama. in a statement, the white house said, "the president congratulates michael sam, the rams and the nfl for taking an important step forward today in our nation's journey. from the playing field to the corporate boardroom, lgbt americans prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and who you are." that's from the president. nfl players and sports analysts h

louis rams select michael sam from missouri. >> with that, michael sam's dream of getting drafted is a reality. he was overwhelmed with emotion. it was a touching moment for sam, surrounded by friends and family. friends said he wants to be judged as a football player. in there give him the chance for the 249th tip. there are concerns that sam would not get drafted after a disappointing performance. make no mistake, it was a high energy, high-effort player, and the one thing that proscouts cannot measure is a players' heart. the next step for michael sam, the st. louis rams fly him in to meet the media and it's time to go to work, learn the system and playbook, in the hopes of making the roster to become the first openly za player. >> people in some parts of the world are celebrating mother's day. in mexico it's marked as a day of progress. they are calling for more to be done to find their children taken by corrupt police and drug gangs. this report from mexico. >> reporter: where are our children demand these women marching in mexico city on mathers day. many join her to protest ag

look, it would have been probably a small disaf disasterf michael sam wouldn't have been drafted. would have pointed to intolerance. mike sam is not an outstanding pro prospect but good enough to get drafted. he fell but he did get drafted. the nfl kind of got saved on that one. but intolerant is going to be a big battle for michael sam and the nfl. >> finally do you think intolerance is an issue for the fans or do they not care? >> oh no, it's an issue. i've been on twitter for the past three days just talking to people who were disgusted by the michael sam kiss. you try to tell people that look all that really matters is this guy can play football. anything else dot does not matter. he's a football player. that's his job. if he can do his job, that's fine. what he does on his own time, that is his on business. but i think the nation is moving towards more tolerance but there's a whole lot of resentment out there. the nfl one of the most testosterone driven cultures in society they probably have longer way to go than general society. >> chris perkins with the florida sun sentinel

louis rams select michael sam defensive end. >> michael sam drafted by the st. louis rams becoming the first openly gay player ever drafted. >> stephen: first openly gay player, important distinction because i think we've all had our questions about the dallas cowboys mascot rowdy. me thinks he dote proteeth tap much. and michael sam's war on traditional gridiron values started as soon as he got the phone call. >> this is the moment where michael sam got the news that he is going to be a member of the st. louis rams. there you see the raw emotion. (laughter) >> stephen: holding! unnecessary tenderness. folks this is just wrong. in the nfl sexuality is supposed to take place off camera. and the fans should only find out about it when the charges are filed. folk, i'm up set and i'm not the only one. >> jones of the doll fines tweeted ong and horrible. >> former super bowl champion tweeted quote i'm sorry but that michael sam is no bueno for doing that on national tv. man you, you got little kids look he draft. >> stephen: yeah, no bueno. kids are watching. now we'

michael sam wasn't the only source of controversy in this year's drafts.in mind, miami is the same team that got into trouble last year for bullying one of its players. for all the talk about changing the culture, is the league really ready? miami dolphins chris perkins, a writer for the sun sentinel. there was controversy in the credit draft, mike pouncey, went and said great pick, i can't wait for our gifts, he's getting us, lol, wasn't he implicatein that bullying scandal last year? >> he was mentioned in that bullying scandal, relinquishie incognito and john jerry. i don't think that mike pouncey is a bad guy but i think he definitely are lacks awareness. mike pouncey this isn't the first incident for him all season. at a birthday party at miami beach night club he are wore a hat that said, "credit are release hernandez." he is being investigate linked to some murders and that was mike pouncey's team mate at the university of florida. mike pouncey had that. then midway through season he got are served with a spean subpoena related to the aaron hernande

about michael sam the football player, michael sam the talent, and why is he here? we even talking about the first openly gay nfl player to get drafted? because he can play football. that's what the rams will take it back to. what he can bring on the football field defensively for their team. >> and this question, during his first news conference after becoming part of the st. louis rams. what should he say? address the fact he's gay, there was a kiss and some negative reaction. what should se say? >> say, i'm just here to play football. the story here is that michael sam is a good football player who, yeah, he happens to be gay, but the thing is, that this attention will die down and in probably like a week, two weeks, because it's something that shouldn't be a story, but it has to be a story now, because it's never happened before. and then i think michael sam really is, you know, just focused on playing football. the nfl is a really hard sport. so he's going to need all attention for that. that's what he's going to do. he's got a good head on his shoulders. >> so

louis rams go ahead and choose michael sam. >> that was missouri's michael sam drafted last hour by the nfl's st. louis rams. this was his reaction, he got the news by phone from the rams team officials. so the nfl has its first openly gay player. terence moore is here, sports contributor to cnn.com. terence, you can see the emotion there. what a big moment for michael sams. what do you think the reaction is going to be? >> well, you know, this is going to be one of those things that's going to be a big deal for a little while, but as time goes on, is going to kaup down, particular if he makes a team and particularly if he does well, and again, you look at the st. louis rams, this is a team that likes to have pass rushers blitz a lot. he's been getting a lot of criticism, michael sam, for being what they call a tweener. a guy who's not quite a defensive end, not quite an nfl linebacker. if you blitz a lot, you can get we with that. but let me tell you something else here. and i hate to be somewhat of a killjoy here, but this could be just a little bit of a publicity stunt in this sense.

louis rams select michael sam. >> reporter: when the st. selected sam, the first openly gay active player in the nfl, they also ignited a new fan-base. sam's jersey so popular, the nfl is scrambling to keep up with demand. >> judge me for what i do on film. >> reporter: and more endorsement deals like this visa ad are expected. the nfl tackling any ounce of controversy. >> we saw dolphin safety don jones make some statements and he got slapped with a fine there because of it. >> reporter: a dolphin player tweeting his reaction to that kiss. support from ellen degeneres to basketball great magic johnson. not long ago sam told our robin roberts. >> i think i can be a beacon for those people. the light. i can be comfortable if my own skin and be like michael sam. >> reporter: his pick could similar pact missouri law which currently does not ban discrimination, either hiring or firing based on sexual orientation. his biggest challenge comes on the field where nfl players are bigger and stronger and where only half of last year's seventh round pi

louis rams select michael sam from juste of missouri.ly after celebrating with family and friends he took to twitter saying: . >> michael sam is the first openly gay player to be drafted in the n.f.l. the league makes about 10 billion a year, driven by major advertising revenues. athletes in the past kept their sexuality private for fear of losing endorsement deals. but with a changing social landscape, this n.f.l. draft is seen by some as generating new initial opportunities. >> to this time sexuality hasn't been a part of that. whether at the professional level, they are ready for michael sam, that will be interesting. i think people will be rite to have the doubt. sam's selection follows a high-profile move in a lucrative game. in february jason collins became the first publicly gay pro-athlete in a popular american sport, when he joined a national basketball association team. clins may attract attention for breaking barriers, but it's not just their talent judged, but their ability to attract sponsors that want to cash in on the chan

i think michael sam should have been drafted higher up.nd for him to be drafted? i do believe we need a full fledged investigation of all sports to clean the deck and maybe sure there is no anti-gay bias or any racial prejudices. >> terrence, was this a football decision or anything to do with his sexuality? >> it's a combination of a lot of things. this is a near perfect for him if he makes the team. remember, he played at missouri. where is st. louis in missouri. he has played in that same building. the st. louis rams have needed all of the star power that they could get lately because it's not been a very good franchise. it's a franchise that needs pass rushers. he's a pass rusher. people talk about this being a guy not quite a defensive end and not quite a linebacker but in addition to jeff fisher as l.z. pointed out accurately is a wonderful coach for any player, i mean, he is a player's coach. they also have a defensive coordinator named gregg williams who likes to blitz. so if you're a tweener who is 6, 265 pounds which michael sam

but michael sam is a a 'tweener. not quite fast enough to be an offensive linebacker. a lot of teams quite frankly worried about the public relation he debacle if michael sames does not get drafted at all. >> he's too short and too slow to be a linebacker, not a defensive end, he was the sec player of the year. how do you square all of that? >> it's going to be tough. players like michael sam the way they grade out, usually go in the fifth, sixth or seventh rounds. there's no shame in that. a lot of good players, richard sherman, was drafted in those later rounds. but the issue is going to become, that question that's lingering out there which is the fact that nfl general managers are some of the most risk averse people on earth and you could just see them getting nervous about, do i want the distraction, do i want the scrutiny, do i want everything that comes of being the home of the first openly gay player in the nfl? of course that's completely backwards. that's the nfl problem, not michael sam's problem. i want to take you into the mind of some of these guys. the wa

and emotional day for michael sam. the player of the year from missouri made headlines for coming out in february. on the final day, in the final day of the draft michael sam got the call. >> with the 249th pick in the 2014 n.f.l. draft the st. louis rams select michael sams, defense for missouri. good for you. >> with that, michael sam's dream became a reality. the 24-year-old says he just wants to be judged as a football player, and it was a touching moment for sam, surround by friends and family. the st. louis rams gives him a chance to prove himself, after taking in the 7th round. there are some concerns that sam wouldn't get drafted after a disappointing performance. make no mistake, it was a high energy, player, the one thing that scouts cannot measure, a players' heart, and sam plays with a lot of passion. the next step from mikael samuelsson. the st louis rams are flying in, and it's time to go work and learn the playbook, learn the system in hopes of making the ram's rotter. the nice thing for michael sam is h

louis rams drafting michael sam. >> folks, this is just wrong.lity is supposed to take place off camera. and the fans should only find out about it when the charges are filed. i'm upset and i'm not the only one. >> don jones of the miami dolphins tweeted, omg, and horrible. >> former super bowl champion said, that michael sam is no bueno for doing that on national tv. kids are watching the draft. >> yeah. kids are watching. now we have to answer the questions like daddy can we stop watching the seventh round of the nfl draft? >> yeah. well, a lot of people had interesting reactions to that. but bottom line, michael sam is going to be on the field for the rams. >> doing his thing. it's great. i think it's positive. >> thank you, sir. appreciate it. >>> it was earlier we asked you what could make twitter better for you. this is after they unveiled their mute option. justine, what'd we get? >> we got a lot of great responses today. mark halperin, our good friend actually tweeted us. he said smell-o-twitter. >> i smell what the halperin is cooking on

and we need the michael sams of the world to make those statements. his team in missouri to be able to come together. we needed the nfl to be able to stand up. over the course of the next several months and next several years i think more doors will open up. i remember when he willen came out on television. folks said her career was over and they said that nothing new was going to happen for her. we just saw her hosting the oscars. change is coming but it takes brave people. it takes our culture to change. all of this sort of policy change that we're seeing in the lgbt right space is a result of the culture change, the result of people telling their stories and the result of folks like michael sam who are brave and stand up. >> jason, i want to read something. i guess my question is, is the nfl ready for an openly gay player. this was from "sports illustrated." someone said, "i don't think football is ready for an openly gay player just yet. in the coming decade or two it is going to be acceptable but at this point in time it is still a man's man's ga

louis rams select michael sams. >> reporter: michael sam was overcome with emotion when he got the news. he was selected late in the seventh round to become a st. louis ram. he expressed his emotion tonight. >> i'm proud to give everything i've got for st. louis. so many people are proud of the st. louis organization, for being the one to make history. >> reporter: sam is the first openly gay player to be drafted in the nfl. he is aware of his status in the history books. >> hey, will there be idiots out there that say some stupid stuff? yeah. i'm not worried about that. i'm worried about the guy next to me, the guy in front of me. i have to prove myself. >> reporter: sam said he is determined to prove he is a good professional football player who happens to be gay. when the s.e.c. co-defensive player of the year came out in february, there was a lot of talk about teams shying away from choosing him because of his sexual orientation. the rams coach jeff fisher. >> you know, this is the second historic moment in the history of the franchise. the rams in 1946, i don't know if you're aware

louis rams select michael sam, defensive end, missouri. >> with that announcement, michael sam becomes the first openly gay player drafted by the national football league. he got the news by telephone from the rams head coach jeff fisher who said, you are a ram, the wait is finally over. it was an emotional moment. >> i'm overwhelmed, excited. proud to be a ram. i knew i was going to get picked somewhere. every team that passed me, i was thinking how i would sack their quk. >> congratulations came from president obama, from the playing field to the corporate board room, lbgt americans prove every day you should be judged by what you do and -- he became the first openly gay athlete when he came out in 2013 tweeted this comment. i wanted to say congrats to@mikesamfootball and@st. louisrams. meanwhile the rams head coach says it's time to get to work. >> he's done an outstanding job dealing with things. i believe he's prepared to discuss the situation and get on to football and helping us win. st. louis rams fans couldn't agree more. they want to see michael sam hit the field. last season

louis rams select michael sams. >> -- michael sams. >> they drafted defensive end michael sam.is the first openly gay player. he already has a message for collin kaepernick. >> and every other quarterback in the league. >> i am proud to be a ram. every team that passed me. i was thinking about the quarterback. >>> the rams say they are proud of their selection and that sam is a high character and hard-working football player. football a.m. lists say his transition into the league should be easier because he knows the area and he played at the university of missouri. >> there is some controversy this morning. about a tweet about michael sam that landed a miami dolphin in trouble. >> he peteed omg and horrible. they are disappointed at jones and will talk to him. dolphins are trying to improve their image after jonathan martin was bullied by richard incognito. he is traded to the 49ers. >>> jason collins responded to the draft pick and wrote. i am getting ready for my game against the heat. i wanted to say congrats to mike sam football. and rams. singer john legend had this to sa

. >> reporter: it was an emotional day for michael sam. he made head lips for coming out in -- head lines for coming out in february. on the final day of the draft michael sam got the call. >> the 249th pick in the 2014 n.f.l. drift, the st. louis rams, michael sam from missouri. >> with that his dream of getting drafted became a reality. as you can imagine, he was overwhelmed with emotion. it was a touchy moment. the 24-year-old sam wanted to be judged as a football player. the st. louis rams will give him a chance, taking him to the 7th round. there are some concerns that sam would not get drafted after a disappointing performance. the kid played in children, made plays, a high energy player. one thing that proscouts cannot measure, a player's heart. sam plays with passion. the next step, the st. louis rams will fly him in to meet the media. then it's time to go work and learn the system. to find the roster and become an open reply gay player. >> still ahead - americans are living longer, ageing is more expensive. we look at the challeng

president obama is among those congratulating michael sam. the rams made sam the first openly gay player in yesterday's draft. he's a media sensation, but ultimately he'll be judged by his play on the field. which begs the question, what if michael sam is a bust? we hope not. we'll discuss it. mark, i'll start with you. michael sam, great college career, but so-called experts have said maybe he's not a perfect fit for the pros. will it matter if he doesn't measure up on the field? >> i mean, obviously, in the disneyfied world that we like to imagine ourselves living in, we want to breakthrough player to be extraordinary, you want everybody to be the jackie robinson type where you break a barrier and you're also phenomenally talented. but he's just average player at the best. and michael sam could be the average nfl player. the question won't be how great a player he is ow the question will he be accepted in the locker room, will fans cheer for him? will he prove to the world that an openly gay player is no different than anyone else in terms o