Dungy, the former Buccaneers and Colts Super-Bowl winning coach, explained to the Tampa Tribune why he, if in Jeff Fisher’s shoes, would have passed on Sam in the seventh round of the 2014 draft.

“I wouldn’t have taken him,” Dungy told the newspaper. “Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it. It’s not going to be totally smooth … things will happen.”

It’s no secret that Dungy is deeply religious. Seven years ago while coaching in Indianapolis, he supported a group called the Indiana Family Institute and its efforts to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

But even though Dungy’s faith has put him on the side of an anti-gay stance, that doesn’t mean he thinks an athlete with Sam’s sexual orientation shouldn’t get an equal shot on the field. Consider what Dungy said after NBA player Jason Collins publically came out as gay last year.

“@StampedeBlue I don’t agree with Jason Collins’ lifestyle but think he deserves respect and should have opportunities like anyone else!” — Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy)

That said, given Dungy’s beliefs, it would have been harder for him coaching Sam to handle some of added scrutiny and potential extra controversy. Not so with the Rams. Since they called Sam’s name in May, Fisher and the rest of the their leadership have expressed that they’re most interested in how Sam can help the team, and there would be nothing distracting about the process.

The Rams also are just down the road from where Sam’s story broke — the University of Missouri. It’s been covered a lot in his transition from college to the NFL draft, at the Combine, and then just recently again in Sam getting great (deserved) attention for his moving speech in accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at last week’s ESPYs.

Because of the groundbreaking nature of Sam’s decision, he has naturally been treated differently by media, even though the Rams won’t treat him differently from the all the players trying to stick with them for the upcoming season. But to think it will be more circus than just a notable camp storyline, that’s not the actual case.

FAVRE UNFAZED

The Packers are holding off from retiring Brett Favre’s No. 4 jersey at Lambeau Field in 2014 because of concerns about him getting booed by 80,000-plus fans. That was according to Packers president Mark Murphy, and seconded by a former Green Bay teammate, tight end Mark Chmura.

Favre, however, made it clear Monday he’s not afraid at all about the potential of being Lam-booed.

“I’ve heard that was a concern of mine, and I’m here to tell you I’m not,” Favre said as a guest of the ‘Carmen and Jurko’ show on Chicago’s WMVP-AM (ESPN 1000). “I’m not worried about that. I’m well aware that you can’t please everyone. Not everyone’s going to like you regardless, and you know what, so be it. But I think the 16 years that I had in Green Bay speaks for itself.”

The reason the Packers faithful would jeer the once unconditionally beloved quarterback legend is the fact he ended his 20-year with the NFC North rival Vikings. He also had a big game against the Packers in his Oct. 2009 return to Green Bay, in route to taking the Vikings to the NFC championship game that season.

Favre believes enough time has passed that his three seasons with other teams post Packers — the Jets for one, the Vikings for two — he’ll be revered more (and respected) for his much longer, more memorable time in Green Bay.

“As time goes by, that’s how I will be remembered, as a Packer, and that’s how I want to be remembered,” Favre said.

And we must remember this: A boo is just a boo.

The Packers may want to pass on the potential of Favre being booed in 2014, but they can’t keep using that excuse much longer. It would be embarassing if Favre doesn’t get that deserved honor at Lambeau sometime during the 2015 season. If not, it would mean he gives his speech in Canton as a 2016 first ballot Hall of Famer before being honored in the right way in Green Bay.

NO. 2 IS NO. 1 

Of the NFL’s 10 best-selling jerseys, two represent players who haven’t played a down in the league. Another isn’t even a player.

The league said Monday that Johnny Manziel’s No. 2 Browns jersey outsold all others from April 1 to July 17 on NFLShop.com. More people purchased Johnny Football’s jersey than that of Russell Wilson (second), Peyton Manning (fourth), Tom Brady (seventh), Drew Brees (eighth) and Aaron Rodgers (ninth) — quarterbacks who, you know, have won a Super Bowl; and start for their respective teams.

Michael Sam’s Rams jersey ranks sixth. The first openly gay player drafted’s jersey and Richard Sherman’s (fifth) are the only two of defensive players to crack the list. 

A third Seahawk … kind of … comes in at No. 10. The “12th Fan” jersey, a prideful representation of Seattle’s “12th Man” crowd at home games, is a popular choice among fans of the defending Super Bowl champs.

DRINKING PARTY GOES WRONG

A former member of the R&B group Destiny’s Child was arrested in Myrtle Beach over the weekend after a night drinking with two football players, according to authorities.

Online records show Farrah Franklin, 33, was booked into the Horry County jail just before 5 a.m. Sunday on a charge of disorderly conduct.

According to police reports, Franklin had been drinking with Daquan Bowers and Ricky Sapp, both former Clemson University football players who are now in the NFL. Bowers — now a defensive end with the Buccaneers — told Horry County Police he had flown Franklin into town from her home in California to spend time with him.

The three went out drinking Sunday and went back to Sapp’s home, according to police. Both men told police Franklin was highly intoxicated and that she was “yelling, slamming doors and refused to stop when asked.”

Bowers and Sapp, an outside linebacker with the Texans, called police after she refused to calm down. Officers said they found Franklin lying in a neighbor’s yard and the woman told police she “did not have anywhere else to go and was planning on sleeping in the woods.”

Franklin was released from jail around noon Sunday after posting $280 bond. Court records listed no attorney for her, and no phone number for her could be found.

Franklin and Michelle Williams joined Destiny’s Child to replace two original members in 2000. Franklin left the group months later, and the remaining trio served to launch the solo careers of Williams, Kelly Rowland and Beyonce.

METTENBERGER PUNCHED

Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger may now be in the NFL, but he can’t escape the intensity of SEC rivalries — or the fists.

The former LSU signal-caller was sucker-punched by the buddy of an apparent Alabama fan at a bar in Nashville over the weekend, establishment owner Steve Ford told The Tennessean on Monday. Mettenberger reportedly didn’t provoke the incident and didn’t require medical attention. 

“Here’s the truth: The guy said something about ‘Roll Tide!’ to Zach, and Zach turned around and said ‘Good luck with that,’” Ford told The Tennessean. “And the guy’s buddy then sucker-punched Zach. I promise you that Mettenberger did not throw a punch. He didn’t do anything. The guy sucker-punched him in the eye, that’s the bottom line.

“It is what it is and it’s over, no one is pressing charges. In 15 years being in the bar business, I know that everyone is trying to provoke someone who is a moving billboard. It is a lawsuit jungle out there.”

Mettenberger never beat the Crimson Tide as a starter with the Tigers. He’s also 6-5, 224 pounds. So why would somebody, even an Alabama fan, feel the need or strike up the nerve to rock the sixth round draft pick in the face?

Great question.

SNEE CALLS IT QUITS

The pain got to be too much for Chris Snee.

So the veteran guard told the New York Giants on Monday that he is retiring.

Snee met with coach Tom Coughlin, who also is his father-in-law, then said he was ending his NFL career after 10 seasons. He has had two hip surgeries and now is most troubled by right elbow and wrist problems. He sat out minicamp last month but indicated he expected to play this season.

“I take tremendous pride in the effort that I put in the weight room and being the strongest player on the field,” the 32-year-old Snee said. “I’m nowhere near that, so I knew that even if I came here today, I wouldn’t be able to practice. You’re trying to catch up and I’ve been trying to get my strength back, but I think it’s time to just let the arm cool down.”

Snee was a second-round pick in 2004 out of Boston College and has made four Pro Bowls. He was to be the anchor of a revamped offensive line this season — a unit that underperformed in 2013 with Snee sidelined for all but three games.

Snee started every game in which he played over the last decade, 141 in all. He made the Pro Bowl in 2008, ‘09, ‘10 and ‘12, a versatile blocker as efficient in pass protection as he was in the running game. He won two Super Bowls as New York’s starting right guard.

“To me, he was the best guard in all of football,” Coughlin said. “No doubt. No matter who you put him against, all of the great defensive tackles in the game, the 350 (pound) guys, the 340 guys, he blocked them. When he first came here, he was so, so committed and so driven to excel at the professional level as he had excelled at the collegiate level.”

Contributors: Vinnie Iyer, Tadd Haislop, The Associated Press