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TODAY's Takeaway: Costas weighs in on Michael Sam draft; Al reports from re-opened Washington Monument

1. Whether or not Michael Sam makes it in the NFL, NBC Sports analyst Bob Costas believes he will be a “significant figure” in league history. “This stuff is moving at warp speed,” Costas told Lauer. “This kind of acceptance is happening quicker than any of us might have thought, and so I think the NFL is just getting in line with what's happening in society overall.”2. Al joined the b

1. Whether or not Michael Sam makes it in the NFL, NBC Sports analyst Bob Costas believes he will be a “significant figure” in league history.

“This stuff is moving at warp speed,” Costas told Lauer. “This kind of acceptance is happening quicker than any of us might have thought, and so I think the NFL is just getting in line with what's happening in society overall.”

2. Al joined the broadcast from the nation’s capital Monday to report on the reopening of the Washington Monument.

"It really is an engineering marvel,” he told the anchors.

3. As part of TODAY’s Shine a Light series, Hoda announced that she will team up with the American Cancer Society, Sara Bareilles and Cyndi Lauper to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.

For Sara Bareilles, the decision to help kids “was a no-brainer.”

4. There was a puppet invasion in Studio 1A! Ahead of “Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge” finale, the colorful creatures crashed the show throughout the morning. The result: pure mayhem.

And that’s TODAY’s Takeaway!