What we knew about Kwame Harris before Monday morning: He was an awful offensive tackle for the 49ers for five seasons, a first-round bust drafted 26th overall by San Francisco in 2003. Harris was a decent run blocker, but he was used like a swing gate by defensive ends en route to the quarterback.
What we didn't know about Kwame Harris before Monday morning: He doesn't like soy sauce on his plate of rice at Chinese restaurants in Menlo Park, and he hates it when his boyfriends wear his underwear without asking.
Harris faces charges of assault and domestic violence in San Mateo County after he allegedly beat up his ex-boyfriend, Dimitri Geier, who put soy sauce on his rice and wore Harris' undergarments (see Page C2).
It's hard to imagine this is the way Harris wanted to come out to the free world – especially to his former teammates.
Harris probably never wanted to come out at all, even though his playing days ended with the Raiders in 2008. In the NFL, you don't ask the guy in the next locker, and you never tell.
But we know.
Harris isn't the first or the last NFL player to have a gay relationship, and it's naive to think there aren't gay men playing in the league today.
Harris could have been the first active player to raise his hand; others could have, too. Before his rookie season, future 49ers teammate Garrison Hearst said he didn't want "faggots" on his team. He later apologized.
It's been reported that 28 of today's players would have no problem with teammates who are gay, and some approve of same-sex marriages. What they do on their own time, they say, is their business. There are probably many more NFL players who believe the same theory but don't want to say so because some might question their sexual orientation.
Someday, an active professional athlete will have the strength to raise his hand and be the first to come out.
It would be much more courageous than coming out in a police blotter.
What to watch
NHL, Anaheim at Sharks, 7:30 p.m., CSNCA, NHLN: San Jose tries to win its sixth consecutive game to start the season.
Today's poll
How would you feel about a gay NFL player?
• Not on my team
• Sure, no problem
Vote above or leave your comments in the comments field; or go to www.sacbee.com/sports
Monday's results
Who would you rather have dinner with?
• Colin Kaepernick: 38%
• Buster Posey: 62%
Total votes: 286
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