Carl Nassib, Raiders' player for the Raiders, says that the NFL has received an incredible response since he was first introduced. (0:40).HENDERSON (Nev.) -- Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib said Friday that the response has been "incredible" since his June 21 announcement via Instagram.Nassib, 28 years old, spoke about how much he feels better on the field after the announcement, how grateful Raiders teammates were upon his arrival at training camps, and how his announcement helped others."My body felt like Jell O the first couple of days I was 'out,' the only one 'out' player. He said that he was anxious. "But now, i just wanted this [media conference] to be over, to move on, to have more clarity. I feel better today. Today is better than yesterday and the day before. I look forward to the future."I was certainly surprised by the huge reaction. It was amazing. It was amazing. It was a great feeling to have that support. I was happy to do my part in helping to bring visibility and representation into my community."Nassib, who was a third-round draft selection by the Cleveland Browns in 2016, and who also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the past, signed a $25 million, three-year free-agent contract with Raiders in March 2020. In his last 14 games, Nassib had 2.5 sacks. This was a record for him and he made five starts. He also had five passes defensed and an interception. The Raiders restructured their defensive end group by signing Yannick Ngakoue free of charge and drafting Malcolm Koonce. Malcolm Koonce will be drafted to join Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell.Although the NFL was shocked by his announcement, Nassib stated that "very few players in the league knew". Nassib said that he visited Raiders coaches prior to the announcement to "give them the opportunity to digest [and] to help me in this process."ESPN reported that Mark Davis, Raiders owner, said at the time, "It is 2021." All the more power Carl. This doesn't change the fact that I still like Carl as a Raider.ESPN also quoted Coach Jon Gruden as saying, "I learned a very long time ago that what makes a man great is what makes him different."Derek Carr, Raiders quarterback, stated that Nassib was treated the same way this week.Carr stated, "His locker's just a few steps down from mine. And I want to make sure he knows that. Man, we just want him play as hard and as hard as possible so that we can win a Super Bowl." That's what we are here for."Whether one agrees or disagrees about what he does on the field or off it, that's everyone's opinion. We are still a family, even though we all come into this building. We better treat him like such. It's been a good experience from my perspective. However, I'm not sure if Carl would agree. I'm not sure. It's been great, based on what I've seen.Nassib stated that the reception in the locker room was "great".Nassib stated, "I knew it would be good." "I didn't stress about it. That was it. Amazing locker room. Amazing teammates. It's been nothing but love and support. It has been amazing. It's a shame that football players are often criticized, but we're humble and hardworking people who accept others. This is a great example.Nassib announced that he would make a donation of $100,000 to Trevor Project. On Thursday, he thanked the Raiders and the NFL for their support.He said, "It's a lot larger than me." "I'm fully aware of this, so I'm happy that the Trevor Project received so much love through a 60-second video. ... I hope I was able to help others.It was very stressful growing up, being in the closet, and all that. It can be very stressful for anyone. This is what I know from personal experience. It's been a huge weight off my shoulders. It's been years since I was 'out' to my family, friends, and it's been great to no longer have to lie to them when I get to work each day. It's been great."
