March 5, 2014
NFL Quarterback: 'Nobody's Perfect' But He'll Welcome Gay Player
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Kirk Cousins, a quarterback for the Washington Redskins, said this week that he would welcome an openly gay player to the National Football League or his team. He also said "nobody's perfect" and that he would show the out player "what it means to follow Jesus."
"From a football standpoint, if the guy can help us win, come help us win," Cousins, a devout Christian, told MLive. "Now, there are a lot of teammates in my locker room right now who may not have a homosexual lifestyle, but they have sins, too. They're not perfect. So I don't say they can't help us win. Nobody's perfect."
Cousins, who made his comments during an appearance at Michigan's North Pointe High School, went on to say: "To that degree, we'd welcome him into our locker room and say come help us win, and hopefully I can love him like Jesus and hopefully show him what it means to follow Jesus."
The athlete's comments come just weeks after All-American Michael Sam told the media he is gay. Sam, a defensive lineman, is poised to be the first out NFL player.
When Outsports reported on Cousin's comments, writer Jim Buzinski criticized the football player's sentiments.
"People like Cousins seem well-meaning and he would like to think he's only full of love," he wrote. "But his assumption that homosexuality equals imperfection and sin is insulting, as is his desire to proselytize."
CBS recently reported that an anonymous Redskins player said the team would have problems accepting an out teammate.
"I think some guys would kind of shy away from him a little bit... maybe three or four guys," the unknown player allegedly said. "But for the most part he'd be accepted."