1.
Following brief stints with the St. Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, former Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Michael Sam is still looking for a job in the NFL. Since being released by the Cowboys in late October, Sam has been off-the-radar in the media. However, TMZ (who else?) recently caught up with Sam to get the scoop on his job prospects and future opportunities.
Sam was mostly non-responsive while fending off the reporters, speaking with them only to reiterate his desire to play football. There was one notable exception, though. After being asked whether he thought his sexual orientation or the caliber of his collegiate competition is the reason for his lukewarm response from the league, Sam told the paparazzi, "I think I was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year last year, so I don't think it had to do with talent."
We can't definitively say that Sam is shading NFL teams for being homophobic; he's simply reminding everyone that he is talented enough to play in the league. We can say, however, that the man should have been given the chance to play a full season in the league. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year award was first awarded in 2003. Its past recipients are Chad Lavalais, David Pollack, DeMeco Ryans, Patrick Willis, Glenn Dorsey, Eric Berry, Rolando McClain, Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne, and Jarvis Jones. If you're wondering why all those names sound at least vaguely familiar, it's because every single one of them played at least two seasons in the NFL; the majority are still active today.
Was Sam truly so much worse than these football players that he didn't deserve a contract with a single professional franchise? Don't ask us; just watch the tape.
[via TMZ Sports]
