Michael Sam: Still really gay, still wants to play

[Rock Strongo]

— Michael Sam, the openly gay linebacker who spent parts of his rookie season on the practice squad with the Cowboys before being released, participated in a veteran free agent combine Sunday in Tempe, Arizona, and said of his prospects of landing a spot with an NFL team, “I think my chances are high.”

“As long as I have that will to play the game and I am healthy, you’ll continue to see me trying to play in this league,” he said. “I am very confident I will be playing football somewhere.”

Added Sam: “I’m young and I’m still good. I don’t have any injuries. I’m going to play.”

Sam, 25, was drafted in the seventh round by the Rams last April but was cut in training camp. He said he’d be “on the first flight out” if the Rams or Cowboys wanted him, and he would consider playing in the Canadian Football League as well

“If that’s the opportunity, I’ll take it,” he said. “I’m a fighter and I’m going to keep fighting.”

Along with more than 100 other free agents in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams, Sam went through drills similar to the NFL scouting combine for rookies. According to ESPN, his fastest 40-yard dash was an unimpressive 5.07 seconds, slower than the 4.91 he clocked at last year’s combine.

Sam said he has been working out in California while also participating on “Dancing With the Stars.” He is scheduled to appear on Monday’s live show.

 

[FantasyBelowZero]

I think that he deserves to be signed by someone, but I don't think that anyone wants the publicity surrounding signing him. Just like he was "confident" last year, I bet that this year's "confidence" will be for not...

 

[Davis_Mike]

All that hard work & training to get into the NFL seems to have paid off...

 

[PDay8810]

"his fastest 40-yard dash was an unimpressive 5.07"

this remains his biggest problem...hello Canada

 

[Rock Strongo]

"his fastest 40-yard dash was an unimpressive 5.07"

this remains his biggest problem...hello Canada

down from the 4.91 he "ran" last year.

positionless and too slow for the NFL.

 

[TxHeat]

down from the 4.91 he "ran" last year.

positionless and too slow for the NFL.

apparently everyone complained about the times registered in the 40. suggesting there was a clock issue.

 

[Davis_Mike]

I am 75% sure my 40 year old ass can still run a sub 5 second 40. So, I don't know what the heck this guy has been doing this past year to get slower than he was a year ago.

 

[podsox]

if he couldn't play for the bears defense last yr he isn't going to be able to find a job this yr

 

[packerzrule]

“I’m a fighter and I’m going to keep fighting.”

I thought he was a "lover" and not a fighter

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I think he is a fringe guy, but an NFL player to be sure. He'll be on the margins for a few years or so. I'd be happy to have him in camp.

 

[Rock Strongo]

I thought he was a "lover" and not a fighter

enjoy your lunch

 

[packerzrule]

enjoy your lunch

 

[BHF]

apparently everyone complained about the times registered in the 40. suggesting there was a clock issue.

Yeah. Saw Felix Jones ran high 4.7s, and Michael Bush ran a frigging 4.91 (and when informed of the time, he went mental).

 

[pantherfanforever11]

enjoy your lunch

you ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sonnyblack65]

enjoy your lunch

Lucky little dude I'm jealous

 

[pantherfanforever11]

Go back and read some of his scouting reports before he came out as gay... he a project late 3rd to 7th round pick...
His speed and strength were questions as well as his overall athleticism. He is tight in his hips thus making it harder for him to convert speed to power, also would make things tough on him in coverage as a OLB in a 3-4. He had a big year playing opposite Kony Ealy and Shane Ray coming in pushing Ealy to rush from the DT position. He got a ton of 0ne on ones and such. So his stats are a bit misleading.
Point is he was never a top notch NFL prospect to begin with. I don’t think he would have made a team whether he came out or not. Maybe a practice squad for a few years but that’s it...

 

[ducky]

down from the 4.91 he "ran" last year.

positionless and too slow for the NFL.

He easily could play 4-3 DE and do well at it if the scheme just asked him to get upfield. A 5+ 40 time is concerning but not a killer. It really matters more what his 10 yards split is.

There are plenty of DE's that can't run a sub 5 40 in the NFL anymore (one of the things this vet combine showed is just how much slower everyone gets after a couple years of NFL abuse).

The problem for Sam has been and continues to be that there really isn't a lot of roster spots for the position he plays. He isn't athletic enough for a switch to a 3-4 OLB. So half the teams are gone right there. And when teams fill out their backup DE's spots for a 4-3 they fill the 3rd spot out by a vet player that can start (not Sam), the 4th spot with a DE that can be stout against the run (not Sam) and the 5th spot (if they have a 5th spot) with an uber-athletic youngster that they hope will blossom someday (not Sam).

If Sam had entered the league even just 6 or 7 years ago before most teams switched to a 3-4, he would have been in the league this last year and likely would have went a lot higher than 7th round in the draft. But it is a different era now.

 

[jarntt]

apparently everyone complained about the times registered in the 40. suggesting there was a clock issue.

Clock issue, I think Felix has a hamburger issue...

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Michael Sam, all your life you've talked about being a professional football player, but there's a problem, you're not any good.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Michael Sam, all your life you've talked about being a professional football player, but there's a problem, you're not any good.

LOL

happy gilmore reference?