Most NFL scouts view the All-American/All-SEC player, who is 6 '2 and 255-260 lbs, as too small as a DE and not quite agile enough to cover as an OLB, yet his physical attributes and explosive speed (4.92 40yd) could fit in nicely as a true pass rusher in the CFL.
A late 7th round pick by the Rams, (curiously tabbed a mid-rounder until publicly coming out) the odds of Sam as a positional player in the NFL appear remote, and IMO much better suited for the Canadian game by all accounts.
As well, the CFL would also set precedence as the first pro gridiron league with an openly gay athlete on the active roster, further invoking it's reputation as a league of inclusion and equality. :thup:
(i.e. Bernie Custis, Warren Moon, Johnny Bright, Chuck Ealey etc)
Question is, Would Michael Sam contemplate a career north of the border?
Wish the negotiation lists were visible when these higher profiles situations came up.
I wish him the best in wherever he lands. He is a solid player
Some uptight management likely focused on the potential distraction he would bring, and potential locker room battles. It is not like there are not gay players in football, they are simply not open. While I tend to believe that most franchises and management would not overlook him because he is open about his sexual orientation, I do believe that the distractions that will likely surround him (mainly media) could have played into it all, which I can understand but is still very unfortunate.
I personally don't think we'll see Sam in Canada regardless of whether he makes an NFL roster. And I think he'll be with the Rams throughout the season.
Like Tebow his earning powers and platform are so much greater in his home country. Sam has gained a foothold in history and his legacy won't be enhanced by coming to Canada I don't think.
Personally I don’t care to know who an athlete chooses to go to bed with and it should not be part of the criteria any more than colour or religion, There have been and are many gay athletes playing professional football.
If you look from a numbers stand point He ran a 4.92 compare that to a Quinn Smith who is 45 pounds heavier and ran a 4.8 (using Smith because his numbers were mentioned this week). If Sam is not athletic enough to play in the NFL he’s likely not athletic enough to play in the CFL, probably not athletic enough to play DE and too light to play DT but if he can earn a job let it be on merit.
Michael Sam is clearly much more than just a nominal player who just happens to be gay.
He is a Unanimous All-American (by Associated Press, Sporting News, the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association of America) a First Team All-SEC and winner of Defensive Player of the Year award last season, not to mention leading the SEC in sacks and tackles during the same 2013 senior year.
Early projections had Sam as a third or fourth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and thus a validation of talent.
Despite being deemed by NFL scouts as too small at his DE position and ill-fitted for mid-secondary does not mean to say Sam cannot be a suitable fit as an end in the CFL.
The kid can play and should be given an opportunity based on collegiate merit/credentials, regardless of sexual orientation.
He ran a 5 second 40. That is what did him in. To be honest, that is too slow for the CFL too. For one ,he would not be on the BC Lions neg list with Wally Buono on staff. Or like how I like to call him. Dirtbag Wally....lol
One reason to keep Michael Sam on the roster for the Rams - revenue from jersey sales. Apparently in the 24 hours since he was drafted requests for his Rams jersey have been described by as 'absolutely ridiculous - an avalanche of orders' that has NFL merchandising scrambling trying to keep up with the demand.
That will only be sustained if he plays and plays well.
It seems he had a terrible performance at the combine. It may have just been an off day, it may be that he is one of those players who play better than they test, or it may be that he is not the first nor the last player who excels in college but can’t make it in the NFL.
Throughout college Tebow cultivated a media presence that has now given him career options. Sam really hasn’t and I don’t know that same the non-football media opportunities will be there. I could see him trying the CFL if the NFL doesn’t pan out
Physically speaking, he is more in line with CFL DE’s vs the NFL, and 4.92 in the 40 yard dash is not considered slow at all for a lineman.
…and most DLinemen average around the 5 second range in the CFL, with WR’s + DB’s averaging in the neighborhood of 4.5 give or take.
Successful pass rushers must possess exceptional Type II muscle fibers for explosiveness and cuts, in addition to keen scrimmage instincts, rather than all out sprinting speed.
Sams time of 4.9 is fine.
Cameron Wakes time at his combine in 2005 was 4.55 which was terrific. Hes probably at 5.1-2 now
40 yard dash times are very overrated.
As they said at the draft Sam has a great first step.
Its all about the fist few yards…not 40. 40 is a bonus, and shows higher top end speed, and is not necessarily always a good indicator of off the line acceleration.
[b][u]Michael Sam "can be fired for being gay" in Missouri [/u]
Christina Coleman, USA TODAY
ST. LOUIS - The Rams’ decision to draft Michael Sam could actually have huge legal implications for gay couples and employees across the state of Missouri.
The Rams drafting Sam has raised some deeper issues about openly gay athletes in sports and in the workplace in general. There’s even debate about whether it was appropriate to show Sam kissing his boyfriend on television during the draft.
It also brought to light the protection of the LGBT community in workplaces throughout the state of Missouri.
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) posted on Twitter: “Michael Sam could still be fired for just being gay according to MO law.
Let’s fix that in Jeffcity.”
The board president of the LGBT Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis,Dara Strickland, is also a family law attorney. She says an individual can be refused employment because of their sexual orientation under current state law.[/b]
So out of this, the Rams get what should be a solid player, a boat load of cash from jersey sales, AND they get to be on the right side of history. If I were a Rams fan I would be VERY proud and pleased of my team right now. :thup:
Dan Bernstein @dan_bernstein - Per source w/#NFL merchandising: Avalanche of Rams "Sam" jersey orders has them scrambling. Calls quantity "ridiculous."
Others this morning confirm that his uniform is the number two seller coming out of the draft behind only Johnny Manziel. Lots of sources for that - here is just one link of the many sources .
- [url=http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/12/news/companies/michael-sam-uniform/]http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/12/news/co ... m-uniform/[/url]
"This is unprecedented for a Day 3 pick, let alone a seventh round pick, to crack the top five rookies sold following Draft weekend," said NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter. Compounding that is the fact that Sam's jerseys were not available for sale until Saturday evening when he was picked. The jerseys of the other players on the top-five list have been available since Thursday, allowing for 48 hours more of sales.
