TMZ Sports caught up with Michael Sam at LAX yesterday and drilled the footballer about why he thinks he was cut from the St. Louis Rams in August, and then dropped from the Dallas Cowboys in October.
Was it because of his sexual orientation or did it have to do with the level of talent he faced after college, the papz wondered.
“Do you think with you coming out it affected your ability to play?” a member of the paparazzi asked.
“I think I was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year last year,” Sam replied. “So I don’t think it had to do with talent.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Possible translation: Michael Sam believes he was forced out for being gay.
But he’s not letting it get him down. He says he’s still very much focused on getting back into the league. And as for that rumored reality series for OWN? Sam says it’s not happening. His focus right now is on football and, presumably, his sexy swimmer boyfriend, Vito Cammissino.
Check out the video below.
Photo credit: Richard Phibbs
VampDC
Please don’t turn gay people into the new black people.
Where if we don’t get our way we scream discrimination.
Kieran
Homophobia within the NFL? Why, the very idea is preposterous. I’m sure the NFL would just love the idea of some of their big, bruising gladiators being openly gay.
CoachS
He’s young and not necessarily savvy when it comes to reporters (and TMZ isn’t exactly a credible news outlet). From Mike Sam’s Twitter account:
“Despite what headlines you may read, I’ve never said and have never believed that I am being kept out of the league.”
“I know I have talent to play in the NFL and I look forward to getting an opportunity once again to prove that I can help a team win.”
He’s a very solid football player. He just plays a very limited position in a league where there aren’t a great deal of teams playing the scheme that demands his position. My worry is that other young athletes will read this as a sign that they should stay deep in the closet. I’m a huge fan of Sam and hope that he lands a job somewhere. It’s funny how both the Rams and Cowboys started losing when they let him go. Karma.
Kieran
@CoachS Actually if the NFL wanted to encourage other NFL or potential NFL players to come out they would have given Michael Sam his opportunity to play. To say that Michael was under a lot of extra stress and scrutiny by coming out would be an understatement. By cutting him the NFL were basically sending a message to other players: If you’re gay, best you stay closeted.
Cam
Look, I’m sorry but he won a particular defensive award and everybody who had won that award in the past had mostly gone in the first 4 rounds of the draft. So Sam wins an award that names him one of the best college defenders in the entire nation and he goes 12th round, and gets booted from teams even though he performed better than other people who were kept?
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…..
If the best college defender in the country doesn’t go until the 12th round there is something else going on.
Kieru
@Kieran: I’m not sure what you want the NFL to do. Should they force a team to keep him on the roster if his position is absolutely irrelevant to their strategy? That seems like it would do more harm than good… almost like requiring teams to maintain a quota for diversity, rather than building their roster based on talent.
And Sam may be right – he may have the talent to play in the NFL. But does he have more talent than the people being chosen instead of him? If the answer is yes then (and only then) is it worth asking if his not being selected has to do with his sexual orientation.
maxort
Sorry for spam. Gay book Something Like Summer, which changed lives of many young aduls, is gonna be turned to film, but needs your support on Indiegogo 🙂 > https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/something-like-summer-feature-film
Apparatus
@VampDC:
Log Cabin Republican / GOProud member right here. So sad.
BJ McFrisky
Mr. Sam is right—it’s not about his talent, it’s about his lack thereof.
Ladbrook
He’s probably correct. If he were straight or closeted, he’d have gone in the first three rounds, even if he had shown deficiencies at the pre-draft workout camps.
The problem for us (and the NFL is banking on this) is that you can’t actually prove it. This isn’t an example of a gay kid not getting into Harvard who also had perfect SATs and was class valedictorian, etc… That type of discrimination is somewhat measurable. This type of bigotry is not.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
And what a shock, BJ is on here to back up whichever side is the one that is unsupportive of anything gay.
The guy was rated one of the top two college defense players in the nation, and his performance was better than others who were kept. But yeah, he has no talent.
Nice to see you branch out from only supporting every anti- gay politician out there, to attacking gay athletes.
Kieran
In this day and age where our society supposedly treasures the ideal of DIVERSITY….the NFL gave one big huge finger to gay Americans. We’re supposed to believe that not one team in the NFL could find a place for Michael Sam on their roster?
I don’t buy it.
Alan down in Florida
NFL homophobia set him up to fail. I worry that this failure sends a message to the league that gay men are incapable of playing at a high enough level to be in the NFL. IMHO if he had waited until after making the squad to come out he would be in the middle of a starring rookie season right now.
mjwatts
As a massive football fan, I have so many conflicting feelings about the Michael Sam situation.
1. He didn’t have a great combine, but he was the SEC defensive player of the year. He shouldn’t have gone so late in the draft.
2. The two teams that gave him a chance seem to have had legitimate reasons to cut him and I don’t think they should’ve been forced to keep him or anything.
3. That being said, I feel like he could be a good fit for some other team, and it’s very telling that no one tried signing him after he was cut from the Cowboys practice squad.
I really hope that this doesn’t scare other young players from coming out (although it probably will). What would really make some waves is if a current player (or players) was to come out but that will probably never happen, understandably so. Hopefully the next hopeful waits until he’s signed to a team before coming out and that’ll help things.
KiDAciDic
Im not really into football but I remember sports pundits being confused by how low on the totem pole Sam was during drafts considering his accomplishments up to that point. I hate conspiracy theories but from the beginning Sam felt like something the NFL wanted to minimize in terms of exposure and why not? The NFL is a billion dollar industry , and they probably know their demographic of machismo laden, testosterone enraged, and yes, bigoted heterosexual males doesnt want to think about “icky” stuff like gay sex. I mean look how long the American military took to get with the program! The military and sports are the the most stereotypically hetero institutions in western culture and I dont see them being enlightened without resistance. I hope Sam doesnt give up.
dhmonarch89
he later tweeted: Despite what headlines you may read, I’ve never said and have never believed that I am being kept out of the league (1/2) I know I have talent to play in the NFL and I look forward to getting an opportunity once again to prove that I can help a team win. (2/2)
Before Michael- there was sippused to be an active NFL player- possibly as many as 3, who was/were planning to come out. If the NFL is so pro gay/gay inclusive, if we can believe their statements that Michael fit in and there were no problems- why haven’t these of other closeted NFL players come out yet???????
1EqualityUSA
Maybe his personality was too much of a factor. Would a coach feel comfortable making decisions about this player, if everybody and their mother are on the sidelines scrutinizing every motive? Added pressure.
sesfm
Oh no, he’ll just have to get by with fame and attractiveness. And might even be forced to get a real job where he won’t get millions just for playing a game! I’ll save my sympathy for…mm…ANYONE ELSE.
money718
Ok, Michael. Too bad you given up after ONE year
iluvcakes
It’s sad to see but I think he should have waited until the ink was dry on his contract.
The fact is even if the NFL is ok with it, even if the players are ok with it, the fans? Never. We have all seen how these fans behave when their favorite team looses. The way they treat a player who fumbled the ball, missed the field goal, etc? They act as if that player personally molested their children. Now imagine Michael Sam misses the game winning pass? There would be so many F Bombs the entire internet would be one big BLEEP for weeks.
People claim he didn’t perform well at the combine but the combine is not the catch all end all way to assess how a player would do in the league. If they aren’t willing to even get him a chance in the league, especially given his impressive resume, being gay is the only conceivable reason why.
stanhope
@VampDC: dumb ass
stanhope
I so much prefer reading about he and Vito than Tom Daly and Dustin Black.
Bob LaBlah
What Sam should have done was get signed with a team first, collect the million dollar check and shut the fuck up about his personal life. It’s just that simple. Everyone and their mother by now know there are gay football players. I hate to see a young man lose that type of payday because he didn’t look closely enough at just what it was he was joining.
TriForceKid1013
@CoachS: Seriously the Rams were losing long before they drafted and cut Sam do some research before saying such stupid things. As for the Cowboys they are on their way to being 9-4 and are only like half a game back of the division lead that’s not exactly what I would call losing.
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: how many times have I shot down this argument like 30 yea he won Co DPOY but he’s also a linemen the people who won it before him were defensive backs which are valued much higher then lineman. Again before he came out he just still only projected to go between to 3-5 rounds that’s not elite talent. Look at the people who win the Heisman Award and that’s the best player in ALL of college football and don’t pan out (look no further than the Rams own QB) college awards don’t mean a thing in the pros.
TriForceKid1013
Also where’s Queerty coverage of the article about how he feels like coming out was a mistake I mean being such the upstanding positive role model and all I don’t hear anything on that. It’s funny how the gay athletes who are good enough to still be playing in their respective sport barely ever say anything like that.
Cagnazzo82
@VampDC: There are places in the US (specifically in the south) where you can still be fired for being gay, and there publlic professions where you can likely lose your job for being gay. DISCRIMINATION ABSOLUTELY STILL DOES EXIST IN AMERICA… and it’s exactly why equal protection laws are being pushed.
Where exactly do you think you’re living? This country is not all sunshine and roses for minority groups. I know people who cannot come out and state they’re gay at work. This does exist and it’s not whining.
Saint Law
If you’ve read anything about his background then you’ll know he’s come through a lot worse than this. We will be hearing more of him.
Saint Law
@BJ McFrisky: The way you unerringly chime in with anti-gay bigots makes me wonder what must it be like to be you?
*shudders
Xzamilio
I would love to see someone of Lebron James or Tom Brady caliber come out of the closet and show that they can let the talent speak for itself and let being gay be an afterthought. No disrespect to Michael Sam, but I’m just not that impressed with him and the more he speaks, the worst he makes it for himself. But he definitely deserves a chance… but so do a lot of other players who didn’t make the cut. His being gay should not be a factor in teams choosing him or not choosing him… but that’s shouldn’t, and we know shouldn’t ain’t shit.
Cam
@TriForceKid1013: Sorry, the fact that he was SEC player of the year and went in the 12th is odd, the fact that other linemen played worse and were kept isn’t right.
You can defend it, but it still doesn’t bare up under close examination.
BJ McFrisky
@Saint Law: Wonder no more, Santa Lawra: It’s fucking awe-haw-haw-some being me.
Having said that, what “anti-gay bigotry” did I “chime in with” regarding Mr. Sam? Oh that’s right—none. Your hate-fantasies are showing again.
BJ McFrisky
@TriForceKid1013: You got that right, kid.
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: He went in the 7th there aren’t 12 rounds in the draft. But that right there lets me know that you don’t really know that much about football and how it works so I guess I will give you a pass in not fully understanding what I’m saying. But the bottom line is he had questions about his ability before he came out and in my opinion that was in part reason why he did did come out (just my opinion) because if he didn’t and things still panned out this way with him being cut but just being picked before the last round what would the excuses be then?
Cam
@TriForceKid1013:
Sorry you’re right, the 7th. My mistake, doesn’t change the fact that the SEC player of the year went that late, when for the past several years they’d never gone near that late, or that other linemen didn’t perform as well and were cut, and Dallas needed defense but still cut him.
I’m not saying he is the best player out there, I’m saying that I seriously doubt he would have gone that late or been dumped that soon.
@BJ McFrisky:
And of course once again, always nice to see BJ take time off from defending every anti-gay bigot out there to come in and defend a gay person getting fired.
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: The fact that Dallas cut him speaks more about him than them to me at least since they had a historically bad defense last year and they aren’t that much better this season. Since the SEC defensive player of the year thing seems to be the bases of and basically your only argument answer me this do you know who those other players are and why they were taken so high, the knocks against and their positives, how many were actually defensive linemen(2 maybe 3 the past decade) when they were taken, and where are they now? Now if all that lines up and all but Sam were top 5 or 10 picks and none went after the first round then I can see your argument.
Cam
@TriForceKid1013:
“Of the 31 rookies since 2010 with two or more sacks and 10 or more tackles in the preseason (again, Sam exceeded those numbers in both categories), Sam is one of only three to not make at least a season-long practice squad. Frank Trotter out of Memphis is the only other defensive end in this category; He now plays Arena Football.
So Sam is in a minority of 2% (drafted DPOYs), 4% (total DPOYs), 10% (DEs with solid preseason stats) and 11% (rookies with solid preseason stats) to not make an NFL team. That’s quite a list of coincidences.”
http://www.outsports.com/2014/11/11/7194937/michael-sam-nfl-preseason-roster
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: While that may be true I asked you to compare SEC Defensive Players of the year http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/sec-dpoy.html of the past few years which are these guys are a comparison since that’s all you keep talking about are Sec Defensive Players of the year. Because again you could so a list like that with any position.
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: So with that list compare linemen drafted, the round and all that other stuff don’t give me a list of overall rookies when before you were only talking about the SEC DPOY.
Cam
@TriForceKid1013:
Ok, so your comment is, that since the information I gave you doesn’t support your point, you won’t comment on it?
What’s the agenda here?
Cam
@TriForceKid1013:
And to my point about former SEC Defensive players of the year. In the last DECADE only one other went later than the first three rounds, and they were chosen in the 5th.
More than half of them went in the first two rounds.
http://thebiglead.com/2014/02/10/michael-sam-only-one-other-sec-defensive-player-of-the-year-has-been-drafted-outside-the-first-two-rounds/
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: I have no agenda you’re the one that changed to argument with your post about all rookies since 2010. I also know when those players were drafted and in what rounds I knew that when I posted the link. Out of those 10 players how many were linemen and the dude taken in the 5 (where Sam was projected to go 3-5 also a lineman) Compare Sam to Patrick Willis, Eric Berry, Rolando McClain, or even Glenn Dorsey. Patrick Peterson is top 3 corner in the league not on his team but the league. Shut down corners and linebackers who can play the run as wellas the pass are valued higher than tweener situational linemen that’s just the way it is and always will be in the NFL.
jason smeds
Being a team player means that you have to bond with the team. If you call yourself gay, you’ve already separated yourself from the others. It makes you an outcast. You’ve turned yourself into an outcast.
A lot of those in the team gain competitive energy through testosterone and shared sexual interests. They cannot do this with someone who calls himself gay. Michael Sam put himself at a distinct disadvantage the minute he called himself ‘gay’.
Apart from that, the gay brand is not particularly healthy. It suggests you base your entire personality on what you do in bed.
Cam
@TriForceKid1013:
You asked about the SEC, I gave you the list, he went several rounds later than predicted and is the ONLY one to go that late.
You keep trying to argue this, but I’m sorry, you’ve been given the info on the other SEC defenders, and the other people with similar or worse stats still playing. You continue to desperately try to deny that there is any possibility that his being gay had anything to do with this. If that was the case, then why are other players afraid to come out?
You seem to be way too into proving that this isn’t a possibility.
@jason smeds:
Hi BJ, Marion Page, Brent, etc… Yeah, because Kobi Bryant gets along so well with his team, or Alex Rodriguez, etc… Funny how you say that being “Gay” makes you bad, an outcast etc… Well then by your own words you just said that him being gay is a reason why he was kicked out. Thank you for proving my point.
But funny how rape, dog fighting, and assault and battery don’t make you an outcast apparently.
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: Dude I gave you that list and even broke it down on another article about this topic. Fact is Sam is not on the level of those players who won the same award and were taken above him which is why he fell that’s the bottom line. Blame homophobia all you want but I don’t see it, he needs to improve his game instead of looking for reasons why he’s not playing do what those other players who were also cut and/or went to the CFL did work on what needed improving instead of blaming the league.
Cam
@TriForceKid1013:
So, lets see, he won the award, but wasn’t any good, and the other defensive players who were taken before him weren’t good enough to win the award but were taken before him because they were better.
Ok got it.
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: Your tunnel vision on this subject is laughable at this point over the course are like 5 or 6 article I have explained to you and others in great detail exactly why he is not good enough at this point. I honestly don’t even know why I’m still engaging with on you this because its clear you know little about this sport or you just pick a side of a topic and not matter that’s what you stick with it shouldn’t be this difficult to get to see the other side of it. Any rational person could at least say maybe he does need to work on some things and improve his game some not you tho it’s homophobia and nothing else.
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: Look up JaMarcus Russel and an even more recent example Robert Griffin III and read about those dudes then tell me what winning a college award means in the pros if you come in thinking you’re good enough and don’t need to constantly improve.
BJ McFrisky
Hysterically funny that @Cam thinks that anyone who disagrees with him (her?) is the same individual posting under different names, since, you know, @Cam is always right about everything, and anyone who disagrees must be a conspirator pushing lies.
TriForceKid1013
Well I can assure you this is the only account I have so he can believe what he wants facts are facts and some of his are good but he fails to acknowledge or look at anything beyond some numbers. In the world of sports numbers don’t always tell the whole story it’s most commonly said to use the eye test which if anyone did they would know why I said he wasn’t on those other players levels. I’ve noted things from scouting reports and listed numerous reason why those things were said about him but he refuses to see anything beyond an award and some preseason stats.
Captain Obvious
@VampDC: Don’t worry, sweetie. With the amount of ignorance and privilege you’re waving around you’ll always be one of the ones causing all the problems rather than the one facing them.
Just keep sucking your silver pacifier and hush.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
And I notice that once again BJ, when you can’t come up with an actual response you just try to deflect. Nice try.
Cam
@TriForceKid1013: said… “@Cam: Look up JaMarcus Russel and an even more recent example Robert Griffin III and read about those dudes then tell me what winning a college award means in the pros if you come in thinking you’re good enough and don’t need to constantly improve.”
________________
What I notice is that you keep making comments, and then when I provide the evidence, you suddenly dance around to other subjects. We were talking about how every single other winner of the SEC defense player of the year for the last decade went far sooner in the draft than Sam, AND 90% of the other players with his stats are still playing and were held, and now suddenly you are bringing up something different.
When you have to keep avoiding evidence and changing your argument, it means you are FAR too wedded to your point.
You seem to have huge amount invested and trying to prove that Sam is an inferior player who didn’t deserve to play. And it seems obvious what kind of person somebody with that agenda is.
TriForceKid1013
@Cam: What evidence did you provide me? Nothing of merit nothing in that stat proves anything about homophobia at all. When did I change my argument it’s been the same since I first posted on anything related to this topic and that’s is he lacks the overall skills needed to help a team right now because he’s and undersized lineman that is a situational pass rusher and if you’re going to be one of those you have to be elite in it(see Aldon Smith). Go back and check every post I’ve written you’re the one who went from you award argument to a something else. You also have provided no proof of homophobia other than the fact he’s not signed to a team.
TriForceKid1013
J@Cam: Also you have yet to comment on the premise that a college award doesn’t mean automatic success in the pros your link was on something else entirely it wasn’t until I posted mine that you even had a clue as to what I was referring to. You can accuse me of avoiding something when you can refute the first thing I ever said to you. I even told you why those other players were chosen ahead him and you can’t refute any of it go ahead and keep talking in circles tho this is getting more and more entertaining with each new post.
jwtraveler
@Captain Obvious: You hit it on the nose, Captain.
jwtraveler
@Cagnazzo82: FYI, there are 29 states that don’t protect gay people from workplace discrimination, not all in the south. If you’re interested, go to HRC.org and click Resources and State Maps for current info on all state anti-discrimination laws. It’s strange that with all the changes in gay marriage laws, there are now many states where a gay couple have the legal right to get married, but not to have a job or rent a home, or even patronize a hotel or restaurant. Wedded bliss is not so blissful when you’re homeless and unemployed.
Cam
@TriForceKid1013:
Actually I provided you multiple facts and they didn’t fit with your more and more obvious anti-gay agenda so you continue to try to avoid talking about them.
Sorry that facts dispute your contention that gay = bad.
Cee
@CoachS: The Cowbows are doin good. I dunno what you’re talkin about. And I’m not even a Cowboys fan. Go Niners!
stranded
There’s no way he will say he wasn’t good enough. How can he, i don’t think any hopeful player would. For my 2 cents, I don’t think it so much his sexuality but the media’s coverage of it that could have possibly gotten in the way of his NFL career. Those ridiculous stories about how he’s being treated and welcomed as well as that awful bit about how he’s acting in the locker room and showers. The media spotlight can burn.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@VampDC: Ha ha! You’re so stupid. You just fell on your own sword. So much for marching for equal rights. Or atleast by your call.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Saint Law: Honestly. Can you pleas be quiet. The adults are trying to have an intelligent conversation about Michael Sam, and your commentary is like razist foreskin: I just want to roll it back!
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Kieru: Yeah, but you can’t argue that it would have been ostensibly much easier for him to slide in “under the radar” if he hadn’t announced his gayness. Now, am I right, or wrong about that? But then you can’t even be Christian, and be in the NFL. Just look at what’s-his-name with the pretty blue eyes, and the body to die for. So maybe it’s all just a matter of targets. As in who hasn’t placed the bigger target on their back which I guess in that sense could make his gayness irrelevant. Oh, look at us; talking football! We have so much in common. By the way I would be the most talented gay black man qualified to date you Kieru. Did you know that? You take a wonderful picture.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Apparatus: Really? You’re a Gay Republican? You know you guys aren’t so bad. Would you be open to dating a guy like me?
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@BJ McFrisky: Congratulations on being selected by Queerty as a voice of the community in one of their current articles. I’ve yet to make your acquaintance, but from all the dullards who are trying to crucify you I’m sure you can’t be all bad. I look forward to reading your commentaries.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Cam: Hi Cam. I still love all of your comments. Your fighting spirit is so sexy.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Captain Obvious: You are seriously becoming a favorite of mine.