First of all, I'm proud of Esera Tuaolo. By coming out to the world, he did something a lot of guys would never have the guts to do. We were teammates in Green Bay, and I know him pretty well. And now, knowing that he's gay, it doesn't change anything. I don't have any bad feelings about it. To me, it's not that big of a deal. But the reality is, I may be in the minority.

Like racism and sexism, homophobia is a form of prejudice so you have to keep in mind that the problem extends beyond the football field. As long as there are people driving around with the sole purpose of seeking out gay individuals, with the intent to do them harm, you have to recognize the intensity of the issue. Being openly gay can effect an individual's overall well-being -- especially someone in the public eye.

Sexuality is a sensitive, emotional topic that evokes many opinions and feelings. Any time you bring a subject of such serious nature into the confines of a locker room, there is potential for disaster. So, it's tough to say that everyone would be okay with it.

A lot of guys would be upset. Particularly because football players shower together. I'm sure a lot of guys are looking back right now and wondering if Tuaolo was checking them out. For many players -- and for many heterosexual men in general -- it's distressing to know that a guy you're sharing soap with is gay. I have to admit, if I knew an openly gay guy was in the shower, I would not be in a rush to go in there.

Unfortunately, an openly gay NFL player would endure a lot of harassment -- especially across the scrimmage line from other teams. Personally, whether I agree with it or not, I wouldn't scrutinize someone for their sexual preference. I would treat him just like everyone else, which would include joking with him about it. But that's not the case for everyone.

It's terrible, yes, but the reality is that a lot of players would treat him badly. I would guess that he'd find graffiti on his locker and maybe even on his car. Perhaps more devastating would be the isolation he would endure. An openly gay player would be treated like the kicker who missed the winning field goal in the last seconds of the game. There would be a noticeable absence of high-fives if he scored a touchdown and he'd be celebrating by himself after a win. All of which would no doubt result in a deep resentment and depression for that individual -- it goes that deep.

I'm proud of Tuaolo for standing up for who he is, but I think he made a wise decision in waiting to come out. Football is a masculine, violent sport. There is a lot of emphasis on toughness. As a player, the last thing you want to be portrayed as is "soft." Other players wouldn't want to go into battle with him on Sundays, he'd most certainly be treated differently.

ESPN.com analyst LeRoy Butler played 12 seasons in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.