Although he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams this past spring, it appears Michael Sam will not become the first openly gay player in the National Football League ( NFL ) as a member of the Rams.
Sam was cut by the Rams on Aug. 30, as teams trimmed their rosters to 53 players.
The 2014 NFL season kicks off on Sept. 4 and the Rams open their season on Sept. 7.
Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year last season at the University of Missouri, was selected 249th overall pick out of 256 overall during the annual NFL Draft in May. Sam, who was out to his Missouri teammates as a senior, came out before the NFL Draft—and was selected in the seventh-round.
St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher said at a press conference on Aug. 30 that, when Sam was informed, he replied, "Thanks for the opportunity." Sam was at the Missouri season-opener on Aug. 30
Fisher said the decision to release Sam was "a football decision." Fisher added that Sam "was no distraction. Mike fit in very, very well. He was fun to be around. No issues."
He had 10.5 tackles and his three sacks, including two of noted rookie Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel, in the team's four preseason games tied him for third-most in the NFL. Sam led the Rams with 5.5 tackles in the team's last preseason game, against Miami.
"I want to thank the entire Rams organization and the city of St. Louis for giving me this tremendous opportunity and allowing me to show I can play at this level," Sam tweeted on Aug. 30. "I look forward to continuing to build on the progress I made here toward a long and successful career."
Sam still has a chance to get picked up by another team, or make the Rams' practice squad. The other 31 NFL teams can claim Sam, and he would go to the team that claimed him first. If Sam is unclaimed, he can sign with the Rams' 10-member developmental unit. He then could practice with the Rams, but not play in games.
"From all indications, Michael was given every opportunity to make the squad," said Anthony Nicodemo, an out high school basketball coach in New York. "The Rams handled the media with grace. In my opinion, the bigger question is if another team picks him up. He's proven he can play in the league, so time will tell."
"I'm very proud of how Michael played this preseason. He showed the entire world that a gay man can compete in the NFL," said Eric Lueshen, of Chicago, who in the early 2000s was a kicker on the University of Nebraska football team. "I'm confident he'll be picked up by another NFL team. It was strictly a numbers game, not homophobia, for why the Rams let him go. The Rams are too stacked at his position and didn't need another one.
"There are other NFL teams in desperate need of a good pass rusher like Michael. These teams would be lucky to have him join their squad. Everything happens for a reason. As Michael said today, 'The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy, this is a lesson I've always known. The journey continues.'
"It'll be interesting to see what plays out over the next 24 hours. Another team not picking him up would be a bigger disappointment. He is good enough to make an NFL roster."
