The NFL Combine is an man-meat market where franchises attempt to leave no crevice unsearched when it comes to the bodies and lives of potential draftees.
The interviews are notorious for bizarre questions—an unnamed prospect was asked if he was attracted to his mom at this year's combine—and former Ohio State CB Eli Apple was no exception to this.
Apple, who posted the fasted 40-yard dash among Buckeyes in Indianapolis, is considered one of the combine's big winners. On Friday, he appeared on ComCast SportsNet in Philadelphia to ask about his experience.
The ubiquitous "What was the weirdest question you were asked?" was dropped, and it didn't take Apple long to render an anecdote.
“The Falcons coach, one of the coaches, was like, ‘So do you like men?’ It was like the first thing he asked me. It was weird," Apple said. "I was just like, ‘No.’ He was like, ‘if you’re going to come to Atlanta, sometimes that’s how it is around here, you’re going to have to get used to it.’ I guess he was joking but they just ask most of these questions to see how you’re going to react.”
As Deadspin pointed out, two years ago the NFL reminded its clubs questions about sexual orientation not only violated league policy but hiring discrimination laws.
Falcons head coach Dan Qunn has already apologized:
“I am really disappointed in the question that was asked by one of our coaches. I have spoken to the coach that interviewed Eli Apple and explained to him how inappropriate and unprofessional this was. I have reiterated this to the entire coaching staff and I want to apologize to Eli for this even coming up. This is not what the Atlanta Falcons are about and it is not how we are going to conduct ourselves.”
The Falcons hold the 17th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, which kicks off on April 28th.
