Breaking News: Michael Sam Released by St. Louis Rams

Former SEC defensive player of the year Michael Sam has spent the last two months trying to make a mark on a loaded St. Louis Rams defensive line. Saturday, his attempt fell short. Saturday’s 3pm cut ended with Michael Sam being released, despite having a productive preseason.

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Sam, who’s undersized for a prototypical defensive end, made just enough plays for the Rams in the preseason to warrant an opportunity in St. Louis, but will have to make his way with another team or on the Rams practice squad. Going into the preseason, it was believed the Rams would keep either Sam or Ethan Westbrooks and Westbrooks ability to play multiple positions on the line may have made keeping Sam a more difficult option.

Sam would have become the first openly gay player in the NFL. Sam was in Columbia, Missouri for the Tigers first game of the season against the South Dakota State Jack Rabbits when the news was released. Last year for the Tigers, Sam recorded 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss during his senior campaign and Sam announced after the season that he was gay. Sam’s efforts did not go unnoticed, as Coach Jeff Fisher said Friday that he believes Sam can play in the NFL.