NFL Gay Athletes Ban: Lobbyist Jack Burkman Prepares Lesgislation While Openly Gay Linebacker Michael Sam Struggles At Combine [VIDEO]

As numerous college football hopefuls continue to battle through the annual NFL Combine -- including openly gay defensive end Michael Sam -- Washington, D.C. lobbyist Jack Burkman is attempting to prevent Sam and other gay athletes from fulfilling their dreams of playing in the National Football League. Voicing his opinion that decency is beginning to spiral downward across the country, the controversial GOP lobbyist -- who got the idea to begin drafting his legislation after Sam announced that he is gay two weeks ago -- is now prepared to take the next step with his document.

“We are losing our decency as a nation,” Burkman said in a statement. “Imagine your son being forced to shower with a gay man. That’s a horrifying prospect for every mom in the country. What in the world has this nation come to? Race, skin color, have nothing to do with it. This is not about bigotry. It is about common decency and civility. Society is moving to a point where we are going to have unisex bathrooms and the next generation thinks that is OK. If the NFL has no morals and no values, then Congress must find values for it.”

Obviously Burkman’s misguided view should not deter openly gay athletes such as Michael Sam and current Brooklyn Nets big man Jason Collins from continuing their lives as athletes but for Sam -- the 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year from the University of Missouri -- his NFL hopes may have been a bit damaged thanks to a lackluster performance in recent 2014 NFL Combine events. Taking part in the major agility and endurance drills each combine invitee enters, Sam posted mediocre-at-best numbers Monday afternoon.

Following a season in which he collected 31 solo tackles and 11.5 sacks, Sam was only able to muster up a 40-time of 4.91 seconds, good enough for the 18^th best time. In addition to a midlevel dash, the 24-year-old end landed a 114-inch broad jump and a 25.5 inch vertical jump while banging out 17 reps on the 225-pound bench press, placing him 47th in that event. Numerous players in the past have struggled at the combine and gone on to have strong NFL careers so the recent shortcomings by Sam will only be viewed as a minor speed bump by many team officials.

The 2014 NFL Draft opens on Thursday, May 8.

WATCH Michael Sam Address the Media Prior to the 2014 NFL Combine