Michael Sam Archives - Missourinet

Michael Sam is ready to be a football player again. Gets a tryout with Montreal and he likes his chances (VIDEO)

May 28, 2015 By Bill Pollock

Michael Sam knew his time would come with a pro football team. (PHOTOS: Alouettes de Montréal / Rogerio Barbosa)

Done with Dancing with the Stars, finished with answering non-football questions, and putting his NFL hopes on hold, former Missouri Tiger and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Sam, is ready to play football professionally. His professional dreams may come true north of the border in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes.

Sam arrived at camp earlier this week and is ready to prove to coaches that he is not only a good pass rusher, but a hard worker.

“I just want to show them (the coaches) that they got their money’s worth,” Sam said after his first practice.

Sam has a sharp learning curve and he must adapt quickly to the rules of the CFL. For starters, he’ll be a stand-up pass rusher as opposed to a three or four-point stance he was accustomed to at Missouri and then with the Rams and Cowboys. In addition to rushing from the two-point, he’ll have to get used to playing a yard off the line of scrimmage.

He’s always been confident that another shot at pro football would come his way. He considers himself a talented player and he believes he will make the squad.

Watch his post practice Q & A with the Montreal media following Wednesday’s practice.

In other Mizzou/CFL news, Henry Josey was signed by the Toronto Argonauts on May 25th.

‘Dancing With the Stars’ 2015: Former Mizzou star Michael Sam named part of season 20 celebrity cast

February 24, 2015 By Bill Pollock

Michael Sam and Peta Murgatroyd pose for a photo (Instagram/Pete Murgatroyd)

The season 20 celebrity cast for ‘Dancing With the Stars’ was revealed today on “Good Morning America,” and former Missouri Tigers football star Michael Sam was named to the show. Sam was the 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the subsequent NFL Draft. Sam was one of the Rams’ final cuts and was added to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad where he was eventually cut again.

Sam will be partnered with Peta Murgatroyd.

Via his Twitter account, Sam expressed his excitement over a series of tweets and said he is still focused on making football his career.

“Very excited to be a part of @DancingABC. Football remains my unquestioned number 1 priority, however, while I continue to train and stay ready, I am ecstatic to participate in a fun, athletic competition like so many players before me have done. Filming this offseason is very flexible and allows me to be part of the veterans combine 3/22 if accepted or any other workouts. I’m looking forward to getting started with @PetaMurgatroyd and winning! Thanks for the support! #TeamSambatroyd”

Peta is excited about teaming up with Sam.

Dancing with the Stars roster:
Noah Galloway with Sharna Burgess
Robert Herjavec with Kym Johnson
Patti LaBelle with Artem Chigvintsev
Nastia Liukin with Derek Hough
Riker Lynch with Allison Holker
Charlotte McKinney with Keo Motsepe
RedFoo with Emma Slater
Michael Sam with Peta Murgatroyd
Willow Shields with Mark Ballas
Suzanne Somers with Tony Dovolani
Rumer Willis with Valentin Chmerkovskiy

Dancing With the Stars premieres Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.

Sam vows to continue fighting for a spot on NFL roster after being dumped from Dallas’ practice squad

October 21, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Michael Sam stretches during his first workout with the Cowboys.

Searching for his third NFL team in less than three months, former Missouri Tiger and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Sam took to Twitter saying he will continue to fight to prove he can play in the NFL. Sam sent out a series of tweets after the Dallas Cowboys cut Sam from their practice squad.

The Cowboys added linebacker Troy Davis who spent the last two seasons with the New York Jets before he was released in August. In four games with the Jets last year, he had five tackles in four games before suffering a chest injury.

Sam is being replaced by a linebacker who went undrafted out of Central Florida, where he was a first-team All Conference USA selection.

Sam’s message has been consistent whether with the Rams or Cowboys. He just wants to get on the field and help his team win (VIDEO)

September 4, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Michael Sam stretches during his first workout with the Cowboys.

Michael Sam leaves the state of Missouri and returns to his home state of Texas. Now on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, he is waiting for his opportunity to help his new team. Sam appears to have a chip on his shoulder when answering questions about his speed. He can’t wait to prove he can rush the passer.

Watch highlights of his media Q & A.

Several of the veterans including quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten came up to Sam and welcomed him and neither one of them expect Sam to be a distraction to the team. Although, Dez Bryant told NFL.com, that owner Jerry Jones called some of the veteran players to give them a head’s up on the plans to add Sam to the practice roster.

Sam lands on Cowboys practice squad. “I’m just looking forward to being a Cowboy, my focus is on making the team.” (UPDATE)

September 3, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Michael Sam

Michael Sam has made the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.

“We just want to give him a chance to come in and help our football team,” said head coach Jason Garrett. “That’s where our attention is [football]. What people say outside the organization is up to them.”

Michael Sam flew into Dallas on Tuesday night and is expected to take a physical for the Cowboys. Sam was cut by the Rams on Saturday after they used a seventh round draft pick on the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year. Sam cleared waivers and was left off the Rams practice squad.

Sam was quoted by ESPN.com as saying, “It has all happened so quickly, but it’s exciting, I just wanna get back to playing football you know,” Sam said. “I haven’t had chance to speak to any of my family yet, not even my mom, but I will. I never followed the Cowboys growing up because I never had a team. I am a fan of defenses and Dallas need some help, that’s why I’m going.”

Sam is from Hitchcock, Texas, just south of Houston.

Fisher says he expects Sam to work out some of the issues from his first NFL game. Impressed with E.J. Gaines (AUDIO)

August 11, 2014 By Bill Pollock

St. Louis Rams Michael Sam (L) is restrained by New Orleans Saints Austin Johnson in the second quarter at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on August 8, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Michael Sam was credited with one tackle and one quarterback hit and he was the main focus of the media following the Rams 26-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints. However, the one former Missouri Tiger who drew rave reviews from head coach Jeff Fisher was E.J. Gaines.

Fisher admitted that Sam played “pretty well,” but got tired as most of the rookies did in their first game. The one trait that Tigers fans are used to seeing from Sam is playing with a high motor. The effort was there, but after watching the game tape, there are mistakes that need to be corrected. Fisher thinks Sam will adjust.

“I think he’ll settle down,” said Fisher.

There are three games left before the final cuts will be made and Fisher thinks Sam could improve his chances at making the final 53 if his special teams play steps up.

Gaines is trying to land a spot on the Rams as the fifth or sixth cornerback on this team. Gaines led the team with six tackles, including four solo stops. While he did make some mistakes, Gaines impressed Fisher to the point where the day after the game, he said that Gaines would definitely be getting more snaps against Green Bay.

Fisher on Gaines

One day after I just complimented Michael Sam for saying he was ready to just focus on football, I question his decision making by signing up with Oprah (VIDEO)

May 15, 2014 By Bill Pollock Leave a Comment

St. Louis Rams rookie Michael Sam talks with reporters at Rams Park in Earth City, Missouri on May 13, 2014. Sam, the first openly gay player was drafted by the Rams in the 2014 draft. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The Oprah Winfrey Network plans to produce a documentary series following the life of Michael Sam. Cameras will follow Sam as he tries to earn a spot with the St. Louis Rams. Sam said it would be great if his story can lead others to accept who they are and go for their dreams.

Sam is absolutely right, but I have one problem with this. Michael Sam, you were drafted to be a football player. You pointed much of your blame, about the attention paid to you being gay, on by the media, but now you take the biggest icon in media and use her company to follow your path to the NFL? I’m sorry, you can’t have it both ways.

Now, does Michael Sam really want to be an NFL football player. Yes, I believe so. But, I wonder if his agent or “his people” are looking out for his best interest…do they believe he can really make it in the NFL? Are they setting up these deals so Sam makes money in his 15 minutes of fame? I’m interested to know the thought process that went behind this decision, because right now Sam should have one focus. That’s learning and training as hard as he can to make the St. Louis Rams.

Watch my video, hear out my view points, and you’ll also listen again to some of Sam’s comments, then please share your thoughts with me below.

Michael Sam is ready to put everything else behind him and just prove he’s an NFL football player (VIDEO)

May 14, 2014 By Bill Pollock

St. Louis Rams rookie Michael Sam listens in as he meets with reporters at Rams Park in Earth City, Missouri on May 13, 2014. Sam, the first openly gay player was drafted by the Rams in the 2014 draft. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Michael Sam was seven picks away from being “Mr. Irrelevant” in the NFL draft. Sam is anything but irrelevant and on he was front and center once again in front of the media. He along with the other selections for the St. Louis Rams met for a Q & A session and two things I observed.

The first, he wants to put the talk of his sexuality behind him. It was never an issue at Mizzou and it won’t be an issue in St. Louis as he teammates welcomed him on Tuesday morning.

Second, he is motivated. I mean really motivated. He doesn’t want his personal life to be the focus when he’s on the field. He just wants to play a sport he loves and he is set on proving to the Rams organization that he is a professional football player and that they made the right choice by drafting him.

AUDIO Listen to Michael Sam’s interview (11:00)

As if Mizzou fans needed another reason to dislike Marshall Henderson, his backpedaling tweets may be push them over the edge (VIDEO)

May 13, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Marshall Henderson

I find the way people reacti to Michael Sam’s draft status and subsequent kiss with his boyfriend, with the video that aired on ESPN’s SportsCenter, fascinating. The topic opens up debate and discussion about free speech, what’s right and wrong (which obviously is different from person to person), and I enjoy hearing people make their arguments for whatever side of the fence they are on about this subject.

Then you get a nimrod like former Ole Miss basketball player Marshall Henderson who takes to Twitter to blast the coverage of Sam and then tries to back track by saying he was tweeting as an experiment for a college paper his buddy was working for a psychology class, who get this…happens to be gay. Like by adding that other detail to your imaginary friend makes this all the more ironic.

Now look, I don’t have proof this classmate or friend exists, so I shouldn’t be bashing Henderson, I should take him for his word right?

Before you dig your hole any deeper Marshall, do one thing for us…produce the friend. Confirm your tweeting was done for a paper. Watch my video and I’ll explain more. Plus, to get caught up on the latest Twitter trail from Henderson, check on the story from FoxSports.com

Sam, “I love my fans, I love Mizzou.” Takes on media at NFL Combine

February 23, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Michael Sam stood tall and answered questions from the media Saturday at the NFL Combine.

Missouri defensive end Michael Sam faced the media Saturday in Indianapolis ahead of his NFL Combine workouts and just two weeks since he made his public announcement that he was gay.

Sam handled his 12-minute session with poise and comes to the workouts, hoping to raise his draft status which has him projected as high as the third round. Some experts feel his stock with drop after his announcement.

In terms of on the field questions, Sam is being labeled a “tweener,” meaning he’s too small for defensive end in the NFL, and questioned about his speed at linebacker.

Here is some of what he had to say Saturday as he took questions from the media.

On whether he has any concern of experiencing any harassment or torment from fans of opposing teams in the NFL:

[Read more…]