Is the NFL Ready for an Openly Gay Player?

CBSSports.com reporter Mike Freeman wrote on Monday that a current NFL Player is considering coming out publicly over the next few months and to resume playing in the league. Freeman doesn't know the identity of the player as he's based this on several interviews with active and former NFL Players. For the article, click here.

Some NFL Players have been in the news recently in showing support for gay marriage. Two notable advocates are Baltimore Ravens' Linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Minnesota Vikings' Punter Chris Kluwe.

An openly gay player in the NFL, however, might not have such support. Leading up to the Super Bowl, 49ers corner Chris Culliver made negative comments about gay football players in the league while doing an interview with comedian and radio host Artie Lange saying "No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do.... Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can't be…in the locker room man. Nah." He also added to that saying gay players should wait ten years before coming out.

Culliver has since apologized for his remarks he made and said he would welcome a gay teammate saying "I treat everyone equal."

The possibility of an active NFL Player saying that he's gay comes at an interesting juncture in the country itself what with the issue of Gay Marriage now before the Supreme Court.

The question then needs to be stated: Are the Fans and the NFL ready for an active football player that is openly gay?

No, but it needs to happen anyway.

While views towards gay marriage and the LGBT community in general are shifting, there will still be considerable backlash towards a gay player that is still in the league from the outside and within. If the initial views expressed by Chris Culliver hold true for many players in locker rooms, there could be some conflict. As for the fans, they might be more tolerant but backlash can still be expected in some form.

Whether these fears are probable or not, I ask you: Is society ever really ready for any legitimate civil rights movement or issue when it arises? The answer is a resounding no. There was backlash when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947 from fans issuing death threats to trouble within the Dodgers' clubhouse. There was plenty of violent backlash directed at African Americans during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's. And Parents cried out that Spongebob Squarepants was a gay show as it's popularity with kids soared.

Sorry, can't stay serious forever. It's just not in my nature.

The point is change never just happens. Parts of society have to be challenged if views and attitudes are ever going to change. The only way for the NFL and the sports world at large to ever be 'ready' for gay players is to have one play openly in their sight.