If you’re paying attention to the NFL news cycle right now, you’re probably aware that an Atlanta Falcons coach got in hot water for asking Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple if he’s gay.
At the combine, the coach asked Apple about his sexual preference, i.e. do you like men? Now, team representatives ask players all kinds of totally idiotic questions at the combine that may or may not have anything to do with the person’s character or ability to play football. Sexual preference obviously has nothing to do with either and thus, the uproar.
But listen, there’s a positive here.
At least we know who the homophobe in the room is now.
He’s former Green Bay Packers safety Marquand Manuel.
Manuel is currently the secondary coach and senior defensive assistant for the Falcons. If you’re interested in reading his fake apology, you can take a look at it here.
Manuel played eight years in the league, including the 2006 season with the Packers, when he started all 16 games at strong safety.
What we find most interesting about Manuel’s brief history with the Packers, is he was one of Ted Thompson’s first free agent signings and thus, one of his only free agent signings. Thompson gave Manuel a five-year, $10 million deal back in 2006 to leave the Seattle Seahawks.
He did this before he signed Ryan Pickett or Charles Woodson, the two name unrestricted free agents he signed that year.
Manuel had 81 tackles and an interception in his lone season with the Packers. He was released during final cuts in 2007, at which time he surely began to wonder, “Is everyone around here gay?!”
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It becomes an issue if it affects the workplace, it’s the people in the workplace who may have the issue, this is just part of the coaches job, politically incorrect as it may be. Methinks thou doth protest a bit too much, Mr. Boneham.
^
Manuel completely sucked for the Pack, and dude is just trying to pick up a date, give homey a break.