Patriots owner Robert Kraft has left no room for misinterpretation in conveying his support for openly-gay Missouri football player Michael Sam.

If Sam can play, said Kraft today, then he’d be happy for him to be doing his playing for the Patriots.

“We’re about winning,” Kraft said. “And anyone who can come in here and help us win, I personally don’t care what their ethnic background is, their racial background, the gender preference. If they can help us win, and they’re about team first, then I’m happy to have him here.”

Kraft said he has not spoken with Patriots coach Bill Beklichick about the 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive lineman, but noted that “he knows that I would encourage him if (Sam) can help us win.

“He and I have discussed this in the past,” Kraft said. “Anyone who can help us win.”

Kraft pointed to the Patriots’ locker room as having a culture that would be welcoming to an openly-gay player.

“If a player were gay and came into this locker room, it would be the most supportive system,” he said. “He’d gain strength by being in here. And it wouldn’t be divisive and he’d make friends for life and they could help him win.

“I really believe that,” he said. “And it was interesting to me that this young man announced to his teammates that he was gay before the season started. And they had a 12-2 record, they were in the SEC championship game, like us being in the AFC championship game, and they lost to Auburn and beat Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.

“And he was co-defensive player of the year in the SEC. And that was after full disclosure. And that makes me happy.”

Kraft went so far as to add, “I think it’s good for America.

“Maybe I’m naïve, but I really think, this is, what, 2014, and I think we’re all more receptive and accepting than we were,” Kraft said.