Report: Gay NFL player 'strongly considering' coming out

Over the past couple of weeks, there have been many stories about potential NFL draftees being subjected to questions about their sexuality at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month, but there still has not been an active player who has stated they are homosexual.

That may soon change.

According to Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com, an unidentified player is considering making his sexual preference public and believes that the atmosphere is right for that player to be accepted in a locker room. The issue has been a hot topic with many current and former NFL players including Scott Fujita, who just ended his 11-year playing career.

According to Freeman:

Based on interviews over the past several weeks with current and former players, I'm told that a current gay NFL player is strongly considering coming out publicly within the next few months -- and after doing so, the player would attempt to continue his career.

I'm told this player feels the time is now for someone to take this step -- despite homophobic remarks from San Francisco 49ers defensive back Chris Culliver and the controversy arising recently at the Indianapolis Scouting combine, when prospects were asked questions about their sexuality.

This player's true concern, I'm told, is not the reaction inside an NFL locker room but outside of it. The player fears he will suffer serious harm from homophobic fans, and that is the only thing preventing him from coming out. My sources will not say who this alleged player is.