SAM TO THE ALS?
He might not be in the St. Louis Rams’ plans but defensive end Michael Sam still has options, including playing in the CFL.
Sam is trying to become the NFL’s first openly gay player. He was among the Rams’ final cuts Saturday, prompting suggestions he’d remain on St. Louis’s practice roster.
But Sam, a 2014 seventh-round pick by St. Louis, wasn’t included among the 10 players the squad named to its practice roster Monday.
So the six-foot-two, 262-pound Sam could choose to wait for another NFL offer or turn his sights north to the CFL.
Sam, 24, is on the Montreal Alouettes’ negotiation list, giving them exclusive rights to the former Missouri star if he chose to play professionally in Canada.
Montreal GM Jim Popp did not immediately respond to an email asking if he’s reached out to Sam. But Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network has reported the CFL club has contacted Sam but hasn’t heard back from him.
(The Canadian Press)
Why do reporters ALWAYS mention Sam's is GAy in Every report?? Get over it already. You think that is news??? We already know – so move on. Shameful Journalism!
because hes the first openly gay pro football player. Thats the story.
I'm sure there are some bleeding hearts out there who think that the only reason he was cut by the Rams is because he was gay. Look, we need to de-emphasize the whole gay thing. If you're gay, you're gay. Whatever. Raising a fuss about it and making it front page news isn't going to help overcome homophobia.
I agree with the above 2 comments, who cares if he is gay. Just play some football, if he is good enough, he will play. If he isn't, he won't.
its a double edged sword, by rehashing his sexuality continues to move the focus away on is football ability , I think society is still at a point where being Gay in an open manner is still not widely accepted. Hi profile people who are Gay need to be identified in the media to help show those kids who are living in fear & confusion that the world is changing and it's much easier today that it was 5 years ago let alone 25 years ago. Still a long ways away from getting to the point that its no longer… Read more »
The Als are always on the ball when it comes to putting players on their neg list. Doesn't always work out but I suppose sometimes it could.
Stranger
WHERE IS THE MONDAY (TUESDAY ) MORNING GOALIE?!
What Jim Popp needs to do is frankly his job. Instead of taking the lazy way of putting every media hyped player on his neg list, he better start finding guys that can start and play. Tim Tebow, Troy Smith, now this guy – nobody cares. He can't play end of story, and he's a distraction. The one person that made this an issue was Michaeal Sam. If he'd have shut his mouth, and established himself at the very least he would have been placed on the practice roster. All things being equal they probably took a guy that isn't… Read more »
The Tuesday Morning Goalie got pulled!
"society is still at a point where being Gay in an open manner is still not widely accepted."
This does not have to be accepted, and nor should it be accepted. However it has to be protected under the law which is what is happening, and frankly that's as far as it goes and should go.
If Sam does come up North to the great CF of L, it will provide for another round of exposure for the league to those south of the border.
It was great to see Chris Boomer and John Saunders from ESPN join the crew in the play-by-play booth during the Hamitom-Toronto game (can be seen on the TSN website).
Jackie Robinson, was more than just a baseball player.
Warren Moon was more than just a quarterback in the NFL.
Rosa Parks was more than just a woman riding the bus.
Michael Sam is more than just an NFL draft pick.
These people caused controversy for doing something the majority of society takes for granted. They made history, and they forever changed the way society saw things.
Ask John Chick if he wants to work on the Defensive line with Micheal Sams. Michael Sams should have kept his mouth shut, established himself instead of causing controversy.
Sams can still draw attention, from sitting in the stands.
You are right Michael Sam is more than an NFL draft pick. He's an example of how to sabatage your career before it starts and he's a distraction.
thats exactly why he did the right thing by not hiding his true sexual orientation. its not something that should sabotage a career before it starts. if u can play, you can play. were a long way off from that being true in pro sports, but its people like sam that are trying to change that.
Sam performed at a high level during the pre-season – 11 tackles and 3 sacks. Has potential to be an impact player in the CFL, and maybe later then NFL.
"What Jim Popp needs to do is frankly his job. Instead of taking the lazy way of putting every media hyped player on his neg list, he better start finding guys that can start and play. Tim Tebow, Troy Smith, now this guy – nobody cares. He can't play end of story, and he's a distraction." I agree 100%. I'm pretty sure Jim Popp just randomly adds names that he sees on ESPN.com to his neg list. He goes after big names who can't play and absolutely nobody in Montreal gives an eff about. I mean, how many tickets has… Read more »
…sure next time you have job interview walk into the office and tell the Interviewer after he says, "good morning how are you?", you can reply, "Fine I'm heterosexual and you?"
It is important for athletes like Sam to have the courage be up front about their sexual orientation and to be role models for other LGBT athletes. Many people are still subjected to harassment, discrimination and violence (and worse in some countries) based solely on their sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation .
The reason every report mentions he is gay is very simple. If it was not for that one attribute no one would know the name of a late round draft pick that never made it onto an NFL roster. There are literally a couple hundred guys in the same boat as him and I bet you can't name a single one….
That is all in your head about persecution. If a person develops convictions and strong boundaries then what does it matter what others think? The response back to persecution can always be, "that's your opinion, what's for lunch?" or "I disagree with that, what's for lunch?" Then watch how fast the so called persecution stops. Here is what the deal is with this guy. He's undersized and he knows he is not an NFL calibre Defensive End. He's probably not fast enough for the CFL. However you have things like Reality TV, and Talk Shows that require a pundant to… Read more »
….Weston Dressler is one name that comes to mind, and had he not been an established CFL veteran he'd be in Bismark right now applying at Tractor Supply Company.
Y'er Welcome
Obama