Michael Sam addresses the media at this year's NFL Combine

Missouri defensive end Michael Sam addressed the media at the combine about being the first openly gay draft prospect in NFL history.

I think he handles himself extremely well in his first big brush with the press.  No question he handles this with class and star quality.

Talking to the media, Sam addressed the obvious issue in question - via USA Today:

"Oh, heck yeah, I wish you guys were just saying, 'Hey, Michael Sam, how's football going? How's training going?' I would love if you'd ask me that question," he said, in his first public appearance since making his landmark announcement Feb. 9.

"But it is what it is. I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player instead of Michael Sam the gay football player."

An All-America selection as a senior with the Tigers in 2013, Sam told his college teammates he was gay before last season. Now he hopes to become the NFL's first openly gay player, though he said he doesn't feel like a trailblazer — "I feel like I'm Michael Sam."