Can NFL Teams as Manti Teo if he is gay? Depends on which team is asking

[maxrandb]

I found this fascinating. It's also a good example of why Federal legislation to protect against discrimination for sexual orientation is...in my opinion...necessary.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--can-nfl-teams-ask-manti-te-o-if-he-s-gay--depends-on-which-teams-are-doing-the-asking-024157625.html

A quirk in the American legal system means that NFL teams are governed by differing laws on the level of intrusive questioning they can impose on potential draft picks such as Manti Te'o.

Te'o's sexuality has been the subject of much debate following the fallout of the Notre Dame defensive star's hoax girlfriend saga that thrust him into a storm of media attention and, unfortunately, public ridicule.

(snip)

No, we stayed away," one NFL executive told Silver at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. "We didn't care, really. We just wanted to get the story straight."

However, that executive was left with little choice if he wished to remain within the confines of employment and privacy law, as the team he works for is one of the 14 franchises from a state that protects sexuality rights under state regulations.

===================================================================
OK, so here are the teams that CAN ask: Atlanta, Arizona, Carolina, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas, Miami, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Philidelphia, St. Louis, Tampa, Tennessee, Washington.

Here are the teams that CAN'T ask: Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Denver, Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, New York Jets, New York Giants, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. what they need to be considering

is his horrid Combine.

Crappy 40 and didn't even participate in all the drills. Mediocre.

His sexuality has no affect on his play... his inability to run worth a damn does.

sP

[smackd]

4. this

he fell so far so fast, i feel a bit sorry for him

i think there are clearly some 'issues' there. possibly being gay isnt one of them.

[OKNancy]

5. I turned on ESPN today and that was all the talk

I take naps.. I get up really early, so I schedule naps in the day. I turned on ESPN - for some reason I can nap to that station. But all the Manti talk ( and Alex Smith too) kept my interest. There was never a mention of the gay question, but boy were they going on and on about how he sucked. Then some guy says he watched the Alabama/Notre Dame game again and he stunk up the place.

[SidDithers]

2. And here are the teams that should be told "None of your fucking business"...

Atlanta, Arizona, Carolina, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas, Miami, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Philidelphia, St. Louis, Tampa, Tennessee, Washington.

Sid

[maxrandb]

8. To me, it's just another example of how the rights of workers have eroded

Everything from asking about sexuality to having to piss in a bottle, just for the "privilege" of working your ass off for some company that could give a rats-ass about what you contribute to their success.

This country needs "effing" SOLIDARITY!

[BainsBane]

3. The guys from Catfish

think his was a legitimate case of Catfishing. Have you seen the movie or show on MTV? It's fascinating how people delude themselves into believing preposterous things about someone behind a computer screen.

For example, I'm really a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. Bullshit like that.

[former9thward]

6. None of them need to ask.

Any that are interested in the answer will hire private detectives to find out the truth. It won't be hard to find. Teo is not very clever.

[WilliamPitt]

7. NFL executives asking college prospects if they "like girls"

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/blogs/bostonspirit/2013/02/nfl_executives_asking_college.html

[maxrandb]

11. I guess on a positive note

at least they pay these players fairly well. I was recently asked to piss in a bottle for a job that paid $10 an hour.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

9. Dez Bryant was asked if his mother was a prostitute

They fuck with people in these sessions. They are basically psychological tests.

[KamaAina]

10. No it doesn't

http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2013/story/_/id/8995947/nfl-looks-combine-sex-orientation-question

"It is league policy to neither consider nor inquire about sexual orientation in the hiring process. In addition, there are specific protections in our collective bargaining agreement with the players that prohibit discrimination against any player, including on the basis of sexual orientation," the league said. "We will look into the report on the questioning of Nick Kasa at the scouting combine. Any team or employee that inquires about impermissible subjects or makes an employment decision based on such factors is subject to league discipline."

So while many teams could get away with it legally, they would still face the wrath of the "Ginger Hammer", commissioner Roger Goodell. Although something tells me he wouldn't be as hard on homophobes as he was on the New Orleans Saints' bounty system, which got several defensive players and their coach suspended.