The media circus that likely will surround Michael Sam is a big issue. It definitely will factor into some NFL team’s decision not to draft him.

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News likened Sam’s situation to what the Jets experienced with Tim Tebow.

From the moment that more than 200 media members, including 30 television stations, covered Tim Tebow’s introductory press conference at the Jets’ indoor practice field in Florham Park two years ago, his presence became one colossal migraine for the organization. Tebowmania swallowed the Jets, the symbol of the circus that defined their season.

Although Jets players never truly blamed Tebow for his cult following, the daily storylines for a backup quarterback/personal punt protector became irritating to them. He simply wasn’t good enough to warrant all the attention. His teammates, frankly, were annoyed by incessant questions about a role player. The organization underestimated the magnitude of the phenomenon. The Tebow trade ultimately affected key figures in the organization. GM Mike Tannenbaum was fired after the 2012 season due to a string of questionable decisions, including bringing in Tebow. Tebow’s presence had an undeniably harmful effect on Mark Sanchez.

Later, Mehta writes:

Is Sam worth it?

“Ultimately it’s going to take a team that has strong leadership,” an NFC executive said. “After Year One, it’ll be a nonissue.”

Maybe so, but the accompanying noise right now may be too loud for some teams to ignore.

I think their positions do make the situation a bit different. Tebow was a quarterback, and getting him on the field required changing the entire offensive approach. Sam, meanwhile, should get playing time as a defensive end/linebacker. He won’t impact the game like a quarterback.

Still, if a team is borderline on whether to draft Sam, it will be an issue on whether it wants to be part of the media circus that will be following him.

Michael Bradley, writing for the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana, has an excellent column on the issue. He contends the media has a responsibility not to become an obstacle for Sam.

As Sam tries to make himself fit for NFL consumption, he will have to navigate a gauntlet of media, most of whom will have good intentions but nonetheless will create barriers to the single-minded approach he needs to get a job. As we as a country move toward greater acceptance of people’s sexual orientations, Sam will be a high-profile test case and a pioneer whose obligations will be far different than those of other rookies.

The media has a responsibility in this, no matter how great the story may be and how much it will help drive ratings, page views and circulation. It’s natural for the early activity to be high, with reporters searching for different angles and ways to handle the story. Family members, friends and teammates will be consulted. Coaches and NFL executives will weigh in on his prospects. There will be ample opportunity for this story to be approached from every direction, by every type of media. Let’s hope the narrative doesn’t devolve into a tabloid disaster.

Bradley concludes:

While Sam prepares for the Combine, the Draft and the 2014 season, he must also get ready for more media attention. The team that he joins will need to brace itself, too. Meanwhile, the media would be well served to consider this story from a mature perspective, rather than one eager to find juicy details and controversy. Sam should be applauded for his courage, and the media should treat him and his story with respect, even as it swarms.

Good advice. Will be interesting to see how this story plays out.