Terrell Suggs says Ravens would welcome a gay teammate

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After 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver stuck his foot in his mouth when asked what he’d think of having a gay teammate, some words of wisdom during this Super Bowl week came from Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.

Asked if he would have a problem with a gay teammate, Suggs answered, “Absolutely not.” Suggs then added that the rest of the team would welcome a gay teammate as well.

“We wouldn’t have a problem with it,” Suggs said. “We don’t care. Our biggest thing in the locker room is to just have fun and stay loose. We don’t really care too much about that. We’re a football team. I said it yesterday; everybody deserves a certain amount of privacy. Who cares? Whatever a person’s choice is, it’s their choice.”

Suggs said the Ravens’ locker room is a welcoming environment.

“On this team, with so many different personalities, we just accept people for who they are and we don’t really care too much about a player’s sexuality,” Suggs said. “To each their own. You know who you are, and we accept you for it.”

101 responses to “Terrell Suggs says Ravens would welcome a gay teammate

  1. Odds are you already have three.

    Too bad any of this matters. At least Suggs and Ayanbadejo are talking some common sense …

  2. I wonder how that gay player would feel with Matt Birk openly campaigning against gay marriage.

  3. The way Ayenbedejo is constantly thumping his gay marriage stuff, I am pretty sure T Sizzle already has a gay team mate, just saying

  4. I think at this point we can all agree that Baltimore has at least one teammate that is “gay.” When Suggs says, “we know who you are” that pretty much triggers and tells me that the team knows about it.
    Given the open attitude about it I would suspect it is a starter too…

  5. “That one guy on the other team said something everyone disliked so I’m going to say the opposite so everyone will like me.”

  6. Sick of all this talk, they’re always in the spot light… When will the straight men and women get some recognition

  7. Boy..calling out NE for what they are, and now this?!

    Quit making me root for you, sizzle!

  8. With the 31st pick in rnd 1 of the 2013 NFL Draft the Baltimore Ravens select……..Manti Te’o LB Notre Dame!

    Be careful what you wish for Mr. Suggs

  9. I’m trying to understand why the gay agenda is being shoved in everyone’s faces. I denounce any comparison between this and the color of your skin. being black was bot and wil not every be a choice. this thing here though…falls under sexual preferences. when you show me unequivocal proof that the “born this way” theory is correct…I will both eat my hat…AND…show you a naturally florescent green dog.

  10. ravenator says:
    Jan 31, 2013 5:35 PM
    What a great organization. Accepting of all.

    0 0 Yup a murderer, an abuser, a gay hater(Birk), a head hunter Pollard, a drug cheat Ray….everyone wants to model their team after the Ravens

  11. Suggs was smart enough to learn from Culliver’s mistake. But notice “We don’t really care TOO MUCH about that.”

  12. What else is anyone going say after Chris Culliver gave an honest answer and is getting crucified for it! Poeple in the press complain when most athletes give generic “blah blah blah” answers to all their stupid ass questions but when somebody gives them more than that they pounce like a bunch of jackals. Give this kid a break, he is entitled to an opinion.

  13. Kudos to Terrell Suggs, but I seriously doubt absolutely everyone on the Ravens would be supportive. Gallop polls says 1/3 of Americans are opposed to any kind of rights or equality for LGBT Americans. That’s 17 or 18 Ravens players that wouldn’t like it. It would be nice to think that NFL players are more open minded than the rest of the country, but it seems pretty unlikely.

  14. “I’m trying to understand why the gay agenda is being shoved in everyone’s faces. I denounce any comparison between this and the color of your skin. being black was bot and wil not every be a choice. this thing here though…falls under sexual preferences. when you show me unequivocal proof that the “born this way” theory is correct…I will both eat my hat…AND…show you a naturally florescent green dog.”

    Lionblood, did you choose to be straight?

  15. Pimpin’ aint easy unless you are Chuck Norris says:
    Jan 31, 2013 5:34 PM
    The way Ayenbedejo is constantly thumping his gay marriage stuff, I am pretty sure T Sizzle already has a gay team mate, just saying.

    ==========================================

    Agree…all you have to do is check out Brendon’s
    eyebrows.

  16. theysone says:

    Really? Ray Lewis, the preaching madman wouldn’t care? I find that hard to believe.
    ————————————————-
    Why? The Bible teaches against premarital and extra-marital sex. Do you think Lewis refuses to interact with teammates who violate those teachings? Not all people of faith spend their time focusing on others’ sex lives. Some of us are more concerned with just treating others–regardless of race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation–as we want to be treated.

  17. I think anyone who says someone CHOOSES to be gay must also assume people choose to be straight. Which would mean they COULD. Be gay but choose not to

    The fact is NFL locker rooms are different. People don’t agree but they coexist. I don’t think he is saying everyone would love playing with a gay player but rather that they don’t ostracize people because everyone in their locker room is different and they accept that.

  18. The moment this nation started accepting what has been considered morally wrong forever was the start of its downfall .may god be with us all .

  19. footballer87 says:Jan 31, 2013 5:34 PM

    I wonder how that gay player would feel with Matt Birk openly campaigning against gay marriage.
    ——————————–

    So what? He has just as much a right to disapprove of gay marriage as someone else has to approve of it.

  20. “And I’m not going to get into the depth of what was said, but from that point on it lit a different type of fire under us.”

    Cliche Hater: First murder, then drugs, now arson!!! This guy should be euthanized!

  21. Showers – I’m sure that Suggs & Co. will change their tune when the gay player walks into a shower full of naked football players.

    Birk is FREE to voice his own opinion, as is anyone who advocates for gays…Birk should NOT be vilified b/c his opinion isn’t “politically correct”.
    If your state wants gay marriage and mine doesn’t, and a gay person wants to get married in my state….then he/she/it can move to another state. THAT is the beauty of this union of individual states, they can enact laws that they want regardless of what other states think.

  22. lionsblood:
    I’m trying to understand why the gay agenda is being shoved in everyone’s faces. I denounce any comparison between this and the color of your skin. being black was bot and wil not every be a choice. this thing here though…falls under sexual preferences.

    ————————
    I’m sorry. I honestly don’t remember the day I “chose” who I am attracted to. You’d think I would because that was also the day I “chose” to live a life of hiding who I am from my family, friends, and every new person I meet in my life because of people like you. Some decision I’ve made for myself…

  23. Matt Birk following his faith isn’t “hatred” in any way, shape or form. Calling him a hater for it is true bigotry. Faith is so often attacked on this site people think it’s perfectly OK to be a bigot toward them, site monitors included.

  24. The media has opinions about everything yet THEY don’t get fried for it. I applaud Culliver for voicing his opinion, same goes for Phil Mickelson & Tiger Woods.
    Gays, etc have the same rights that everyone else has, but they want “special” right just for themselves. THAT is what angers people, blacks already have whole sets of laws just to favor them, now gays want the same treatment. I am wholly against special treatment for any group except for Native Americans.

  25. 1. Suggs suggests it’s a choice. Funny.

    2. Birk’s disapproval of gay marriage is not hatred of gays.

    3. I would love for any team’s biggest, baddest player to come out and dare any of his teammates to say peep about it.

  26. I applaud Suggs for saying this. He has once again given us reason to forget we love the NFL and are excited about the Super Bowl. After all, football just needed a little gay rights to make it more interesting!

    Ps.
    If you’re “born with it” it would have to be genetic. So if there is a gay gene it would have to be a recessive gene like blue eyes or red hair. If its a recessive gene it needs a male and female to pass it along or it would eventually find its way out of the gene pool due to the inability of gay people to procreate before reproductive procedures like artificial insemination. Logically it can’t work.

  27. How cute are these steeler comments. Theyre trying so hard to let the world know they still exist.

  28. He’s only saying that because of what culliver said. But I don’t doubt that Ray Lewis would welcome a gay teammate….we all know about them preachers and their preferences.
    P.S. Ray Lewis is the worst teammate in history. Way to put the national spotlight only on you and not “the Ravens”. Wonder if he’ll cry during the national anthem again and work towards his next career…Acting. Clearly he is terrible but I’m sure he’ll make it to a sy-fy movie or two.

  29. THIS is exactly why people like Brendon Ayanbadejo and Chris Kluwe are so important to the gay rights movement.

    People not afraid to be vocal about an issue that doesn’t necessarily impact them personally. I’m not gay, and only know a few gay people none of whom I consider “close”….but I know right from wrong and actively support their cause, and any cause that opposes repressing a minority group (whether I am a part of that group or not).

  30. I don’t think there is any reason to be mean to a gay teammate, unless he becomes a distraction and makes an issue out of everything. Gay marriage, however, is a whole different story, and I would hope more players are against it than are for it.

  31. as long as one says what is politically correct we are fine why even ask the questions just print the politically correct and acceptable answers the media stinks

  32. js39 says:
    Jan 31, 2013 5:40 PM

    Sick of all this talk, they’re always in the spot light… When will the straight men and women get some recognition
    —————
    they do. It’s called 24/7

  33. LOL!

    Playin’ his cards carefully only because the politically correct gun is aimed at the 9’ers as their opps in the SB thanks to Culliver who should’ve NEVER apologized.

    Other than that he’d keep his mouth shut about this particular subject.

  34. Putting aside our opinions one way or another of a gay athlete, I wonder what the results would be if the players participated in a survey asking them how they felt about a gay teammate if the survey was anonymous?

  35. Im laughin at the photo choice. Classic Suggs!
    Im not sure they are aware of the pounding they are about to recieve.
    i dont see the niners laying down in front of the goal line this game!!
    they did alot of that this year, this whole season was planned that way. So go back to your rooms, they’ll call for you on sunday!!! Talkin smack like you gonna hunt some rabbits, hhahahaaha

  36. Why do we even talk about this? Odds are some of these guys are gay. Just play the percentages. It shouldnt matter and shouldnt even need to be spoken about. I happen to be heterosexual and nothing to me is more beautiful than a woman. But if some guy happens to think that way about other men, more power to him. As long as he isnt breaking any laws then I dont know why we stilll see articles on this stuff

  37. JESUS CHRIST CAN WE TALK ABOUT SOME FOOTBALL?!?!?

    I have no issue with any lifestyle someone else chooses to live as long as it’s not hurting others. Let it go.

  38. The christian bible was written by folks who didn’t like gay folks. That’s why bibles are written. Iron-fist the masses with your ideas, hangups and prejudice.

    Throw some magic and otherworldlyness into the mix to generate awe and even a healthy dose of fear byproduct and BAM, you have the vast majority of religion covered.

    It’s pretty sad that this day and age that there is so much intolerance and bigotry around… even these entitled man-children athletes should have been taught better…

  39. @ dolfanatik please what u said is absolutely ridiculous… Why should people have to abide by the rules of the bible for only certain things, but for other things like cheating and divorce they can get a pass?

  40. Matt Birk the Harvard educated Center for the Ravens has been a long time advocate of traditional values and he plays on the same team as a guy who worships and espouses all things deviant. I’m guessing Culliver was brought before the PC police and told he has no right to an opinion especially playing for a team that represents the gayest city in the world. Sorry Chris, when you sign that contract your every thought and deed becomes the property of the NFL and franchise owner even if you are espousing what 99.99 % of all players and fans agree with.

  41. I really do hope that everyone realizes that this America and everyone has their right to an opinion. It is a democracy and i don’t understand why you would happen to think that Suggs and Birk would hate each other over an issue they disagree on.

  42. So, basically, you can say that about anything. In your eyes, nothing is wrong if it is what you like? Is that it? And what does tolerance really mean? Nobody is advocating stoning people that are attracted to the same sex and act it out? I think people are tolerant. But they don’t agree with it and thing is is wrong. But they are tolerant. Maybe Christians thing you are intolerant of their beliefs? Eh?
    ——————–
    beeroncos says: Jan 31, 2013 8:33 PM

    The christian bible was written by folks who didn’t like gay folks. That’s why bibles are written. Iron-fist the masses with your ideas, hangups and prejudice.

    Throw some magic and otherworldlyness into the mix to generate awe and even a healthy dose of fear byproduct and BAM, you have the vast majority of religion covered.

    It’s pretty sad that this day and age that there is so much intolerance and bigotry around… even these entitled man-children athletes should have been taught better…

  43. I agree with his comments, shouldn’t be an issue. You are there to do a job.

    Although, on a side note that’s way too articulate to be his actual words.

  44. The two worst media prepared teams in the NFL -When people praise T-Fizzel, you know it’s bad….. Best Superbowl line is from Bedard referring to Ray Lewis’ “Nubs of Shame”

  45. At the end of the day, shouldn’t it matter if a dude can play ball or not? Who cares who he has sex with in his own time? The goal is to win championship rings and if you have someone that can help you do that then it is stupid not to welcome them as a teammate.

    And for the “Christians” justifying things with passages from Leviticus, please give me a reasoned argument that doesn’t invoke a faith that I don’t share. Which actually IS a choice.

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