Michael Sam will continue his career in professional football, but not in the NFL.
The Montreal Alouettes, of the Canadian Football League, announced on Friday that Sam would join the team on a two-year deal.
Sam made headlines when he became the first openly gay player in NFL history when he was taken in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Jim Popp, GM of the Montreal Alouettes said:
“With the signing of Michael Sam, we have become a better organization today. Not only have we added an outstanding football player, we have added even a better person that brings dignity, character, and heart to our team.”
Popp also said:
“Yes, he’s the first openly gay CFL player. But he’s no different than any player we’ve ever recruiter. We recruited him strictly off his skill set, which is that he’s an outstanding pass-rusher. He doesn’t fit into everyone’s system in the NFL, but he showed what he can do in the preseason. He’ll get to do what he does best with us. Now, he’s gotta make our team, he’s got to understand the nuances of our league and all that. But we got him strictly off his skill set.”
Sam had a great preseason last year with Rams totaling three sacks and 11 tackles, but failed to make the roster, and then Dallas signed him on Sept. 3 but he was waived a mere six weeks later.
Popp also noted that:
“He’s a tweaner (in the NFL), but he’s a prefect type of what we use as rush end in the CFL — stand up on the edge, rush the passer. That’s what he’ll be doing. He has a similar body type for what the better pass-rushers in the CFL have. Whereas in the NFL, those guys are usually 6-5, 280. What he’ll do is what he does best — rush the passer. Line up and crank it every single play…. What does that translate to? I hope we can get [an] outstanding player that maybe an NFL will pay him a lot and take him. Like Cam Wake.”
For now Michael Sam’s career continues in the Great White North called Canada.
