Things looked so good for Michael Sam when he became the first openly gay football player drafted in the NFL.
The Rams picked him up, and there were endorsement deals, talk of TV shows, and national media attention all pointed at the young star player. And who could forget about that super hot boyfriend?
Sure, there was that whole Grindr photo leak, and that super awkward ESPN report on his showering habits, but things were still going great.
Except then the Rams cut him, and he lost his spot on the 53-man roster to fellow rookie Ethan Westbrooks, “one of nine defensive linemen the Rams kept.”
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But no worry, Michael quickly signed on with the Cowboys, telling the Daily Mail, “I’m just looking forward to being a Cowboy, my focus is on making the team.”
Well we’re sorry to report he did not make the team, after all. After spending the first seven weeks of the season on the Cowboy’s 10-man practice squad, they’ve decided to drop him to make way for linebacker Troy Davis, a second-year pro from Central Florida.
On the bright side, now he’s free to explore reality television with Oprah again. Assuming, of course, she’ll still take his call.
DarkZephyr
“On the bright side, now he’s free to explore reality television with Oprah again. Assuming, of course, she’ll still take his call.”
Why did you have to add this, Queerty? Seriously, why?
NG22
@DarkZephyr: I found it unnecessary and disrespectful. He may not have made it onto the NFL field, but he was still a towering LGBT figure of 2014, and he was very brave in coming out.
Whether in football or a different industry, I wish Michael the best of luck.
throwslikeagirl
That coda was unnecessary and just poor journalism. Try to be a tad less snarky, Queerty. I wouldn’t have liked it even if it was meant to be funny, but it really didn’t sound like it was meant to be anything but sarcastic and mean spirited.
restoretherainbow
This is heartbreaking to read. I sincerely wish Michael Sam the very best. I do hope this barrier breakers gets a platform to raise visibility for the issues that matter to him.
aliengod
Who cares! He was given way too much attention in the first place.
MarionPaige
Michael Sam really seemed like an idiot all around. You would think that “coming out” in the NFL would be something you did AFTER you actually had a job. And, everything about Sam’s choice of partners screamed desperation and ignorance – like Sam was so eager to present something as his partner that he didn’t take the time to do any kind of background check on the guy he picked. And, being the only Black person in the room (seemingly) on your big draft pick day (when you have parents and siblings) also signaled something amiss with Sam.
Sam drank the “openly gay kool-aide” – like the idiot he is.
MarionPaige
“The Out Movement” was a campaign by White Queens in Publishing aimed at aping how Black Media (like Johnson Publishing) was able to “thrive” on advertising from American corporations eager to do EEO advertising (after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) The whole Out movement was about trying to make Gay a legal minority group (like Black) FOR THE ADVERTISING. So, for a Black Man to actually buy into the Out propaganda is just plain delusional.
enlightenone
@stranded: Who? Repressed adolescent gay queens (rarely do I use the label “queens”) who are obsessed with the likes of Tom Daley, that Zac guy, and Michael Sam’s “super hot boyfriend!” Perhaps, I wouldn’t be so harsh if I was still in my 20’s. Actually, I still would!
DarkZephyr
@MarionPaige: I see that your r*cism AND homophobia is alive and well.
SportGuy
I wasn’t aware that he had “a super hot boyfriend”, how come they never showed them together. He was always with the vito guy that looks like a hobbit from lord of the rings. Oh well, he wasn’t good enough to make the team so that is his fault.
Billysees
@restoretherainbow:
“This is heartbreaking…I…wish Michael Sam the very best. I…hope this barrier breakers gets a platform to raise visibility for the issues that matter to him.”
Good comment.
I would add, “…raise visibility for the issues that matter to him [and to many others also].
Kangol
@MarionPaige:
You might have missed the news that Michael Sam has been estranged from his immediate family, and several of his siblings are incarcerated. That’s why they weren’t with him on draft day.
What he did was incredibly brave, just as what Jason Collins did was incredibly brave. You may dismiss it as the “gay agenda,” but both have paved the way for any and all who follow.
I hope he gets a shot with a team once the anti-gay panic and cowardice of these teams wears down a bit. He can play. He should be given a chance to do so.
solacesoul
If he is truly interested in playing professional football, he can try out for the Canadian Football League, Arena, or the new XFL. Standout players in those lesser leagues often later get picked up for the NFL after they prove themselves.
And he really ought to dump the tired starfucking boyfriend who is the recent ex of a bareback porn star. He’s doing himself no favors,
TriForceKid1013
@Kangol: So let me get this straight when the Rams cut him and nobody sign him as soon as it was announced it was because of homopobia. Then after he got sign by Dallas everyone was singing their praises because they had the courage to do so.
Now he’s cut from Dallas and all the sudden there’s anti gay panic again even tho he was on the practice squad with no known problems since the start of the season. Maybe just maybe he’s not that good yet and perhaps should do as @solacesoul suggested which is also something I said when St Louis cut him.
Also Jason Collins wasn’t brave because unlike Michael Sam he waited until his career was basically over to come out that’s not paving a way he did it to extend his career because he sucked was becoming a free agent and used it to his advantage.
CoachS
Never particularly cared about who his boyfriend was/is. I cared more that he was an excellent role model for young gay football players (and other athletes) who were in the closet or questioning.
He proved in the pre-season that he has the talent to play in the NFL and the Cowboys coaches were saying very good things about him up until last week. Circumstances change and he was a victim of his circumstances. The Cowboys had need at linebacker. Sam is an end.
I hope that he goes on to Arena or Canadian leagues and proves his way back to the NFL. Westbrooks hasn’t done anything. The Rams could actually use Mike right about now. Great guy who has acted with class. Youth athletes take note.
pjm1
I have talked with friends about what it would/should take for a pro athlete to come out
during his career.
To be the first to come out you should probably be an established player,
possibly a star player (Aaron Rodgers would do & he has his big contract).
If you are going into the draft from college, you would want to be a first round type pick.
On the other hand, if being out is at the core of who you are then you must be who you are.
We will never know how Michael Sam’s draft and career would have gone had he not come out.
Does he have the talent to play in the NFL? I sure do not know. Also, I am not sure his career
is over but it may well be. And there are plenty of excellent college players who do not make it
in the NFL — Tim Tebow is exhibit A (Heisman Trophy and National Champion with the Seminoles).
Whatever Sam’s career path, he seems a young man of character and integrity — and what a great
role model to have.
teddy55
Some snarky queens on the comment board today.
jackdog111
Let’s be realistic. He was drafted for PR reasons and to take the focus off the wife beatings.
Here’s how the owners’ meeting probably went..
OK, one of you guys is gonna have to take one for the team and draft his gay ass. We need the positive PR and you can quietly cut him later after the noise dies down. We’ll make sure he knows how to behave in the locker room so the other guys aren’t freaked out by him scoping their dicks.
To make this look legit, when the first team cuts the faggot, one of you is gonna have to put him on the practice squad to keep the press positive. Whoever takes the practice hit can cut him about week 6 and it will all blow over at that point.
Any volunteers or do we have to draw straws?
enlightenone
Seems most likely of all “reported” and commented upon scenarios! That said, as far as I’m concerned, he had the most authentic, sincere, OUT/”coming out” stories and interviewee worthy of attention given his profession, sex, age, and “race!”
Mr C
@Kangol: he also has chosen to stay estranged. It also makes it look good to gay press to keep pushing the ‘black homophobia’ card.
Cagnazzo82
Almost seems like Queerty’s giddy about his downfall. Wtf?
That last line sounded like what someone on Breitbart might say.