Posted Fri, 22 May 2015, 1:27pm by Ian Watson
After his high profile drafting and dropping by the NFL, Michael Sam finds a place to play pro football in Montreal.
Montreal - The Montreal Alouettes announced on Friday that the club has signed international defensive end Michael Sam to a two-year deal. Sam (6’2’’, 260 lbs.) joins the Alouettes after spending the 2014 season in the National Football League with the St. Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys.The 25-year-old athlete developed his playing abilities with the University of Missouri Tigers in the NCAA. In four seasons with the Tigers, Sam registered an impressive 123 total tackles of which 36 were for losses and 21 total sacks. He also notched two interceptions.
“With the signing of Michael Sam, we have become a better organization today,” said Alouettes’ general manager, Jim Popp. “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.”
In his last year with Missouri, he was named on the first-team All-SEC, in addition to receiving joint SEC Defensive Player of the Year honours with CJ Mosley of the University of Alabama. He led the conference with 11.5 total sacks and 21 tackles for losses. He also forced a fumble, which he returned for a touchdown during the Cotton Bowl, helping the Tigers defeat the Oklahoma State University Cowboys by a score of 41-31.
“I am very excited and proud to join the Montreal Alouettes and want to thank team Owner Robert Wetenhall, General Manager Jim Popp and Head Coach Tom Higgins for this opportunity,” declared the Alouettes newest member. “I cannot wait to put on the pads, get back on the field and work hard each and every day with my teammates to bring a Grey Cup to the great fans here in Montreal.”
Following his impressive performance during his senior year, the Galveston, TX native was selected in the fifth round (249th overall) by the Rams during the 2014 NFL Draft. In four pre-season games with St. Louis, Sam collected 11 tackles and three sacks.
Montreal - The Montreal Alouettes announced on Friday that the club has signed international defensive end Michael Sam to a two-year deal. Sam (6’2’’, 260 lbs.) joins the Alouettes after spending the 2014 season in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys.
His sexuality is a non-issue, as far as general manager Jim Popp is concerned. "Michael Sam is a very good football player, and that's the reason we signed him," Popp said of Sam, who is openly gay. "He's an outstanding pass-rusher."
"I think he'll be embraced," Popp said. "There's always a possibility of someone having an issue, as there always is in society. If there's any challenge with any individual, then obviously we'll get him the appropriate people to help educate... But I think our team will be ecstatic and welcome him with no problem."
“With the signing of Michael Sam, we have become a better organization today,” said Alouettes’ general manager, Jim Popp. “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.”
The 25-year-old athlete developed his playing abilities with the University of Missouri Tigers in the NCAA. In four seasons with the Tigers, Sam registered an impressive 123 total tackles of which 36 were for losses and 21 total sacks. He also notched two interceptions. He also forced a fumble, which he returned for a touchdown during the Cotton Bowl, helping the Tigers defeat the Oklahoma State University Cowboys by a score of 41-31.
Following his impressive performance during his senior year, the Galveston, Texas, native became a sensation when he came out before last year's NFL draft, selected in the fifth round (249th overall) by the Rams. His NFL jerseys were an instant best-seller.
President Barack Obama publicly congratulated Sam and the Rams, who made him the first openly gay player to be drafted for their courage.
In four pre-season games with St. Louis, Sam collected 11 tackles and three sacks.
Sam was cut by the Rams after training camp. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys' practice roster but was waived in October. He took another shot at landing an NFL job by attending this year's veterans combine, with no luck.
The Alouettes had Sam on their negotiation list and Popp said he was in contact with him all along. The six-foot-two 260-pound Sam finally accepted a contract after completing his commitment to Dancing With The Stars.
“I am very excited and proud to join the Montreal Alouettes and want to thank team Owner Robert Wetenhall, General Manager Jim Popp and Head Coach Tom Higgins for this opportunity,” declared the Alouettes newest member. “I cannot wait to put on the pads, get back on the field and work hard each and every day with my teammates to bring a Grey Cup to the great fans here in Montreal.”
Popp said Sam was considered a "tweener" by NFL clubs, not quite the right body type to be a defensive end or an outside linebacker for that league.
But he may fit perfectly in the CFL. Popp feels he can follow a similar path to Cam Wake, who was converted from linebacker to rush end when he joined the B.C. Lions in 2007.
Wake had 40 sacks and was named CFL defensive player of the year in each of his two seasons with the Lions before signing with the Miami Dolphins, where he has had a successful NFL career.
"If he proves [NFL] people wrong it would be great for us and I think he can do it," said Popp.
CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge congratulated the Alouettes Friday. "Congratulations to the Montreal Alouettes on the signing of Michael Sam," Orridge said in a statement. "Our players come to us from different places, different walks of life and ultimately they take different paths to get to our fields.
"Today is another indication of how open and progressive the CFL is — consistent with our rich and storied history of great football tradition."
Not blind to Sam's celebrity status, the team immediately put his No. 94 Alouettes jersey on sale on their website for $139.95.
We’re just happy to see the first openly gay pro football player get a shot at actually playing football.
Montreal - The Montreal Alouettes announced on Friday that the club has signed international defensive end Michael Sam to a two-year deal. Sam (6’2’’, 260 lbs.) joins the Alouettes after spending the 2014 season in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys.
His sexuality is a non-issue, as far as general manager Jim Popp is concerned. "Michael Sam is a very good football player, and that's the reason we signed him," Popp said of Sam, who is openly gay. "He's an outstanding pass-rusher.""I think he'll be embraced," Popp said. "There's always a possibility of someone having an issue, as there always is in society. If there's any challenge with any individual, then obviously we'll get him the appropriate people to help educate... But I think our team will be ecstatic and welcome him with no problem."
“With the signing of Michael Sam, we have become a better organization today,” continued Popp. “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.”
The 25-year-old athlete developed his playing abilities with the University of Missouri Tigers in the NCAA. In four seasons with the Tigers, Sam registered an impressive 123 total tackles of which 36 were for losses and 21 total sacks. He also notched two interceptions. He also forced a fumble, which he returned for a touchdown during the Cotton Bowl, helping the Tigers defeat the Oklahoma State University Cowboys by a score of 41-31.
Following his impressive performance during his senior year, the Galveston, Texas, native became a sensation when he came out before last year's NFL draft, selected in the fifth round (249th overall) by the Rams. His NFL jerseys were an instant best-seller.
President Barack Obama publicly congratulated Sam and the Rams, who made him the first openly gay player to be drafted for their courage.
In four pre-season games with St. Louis, Sam collected 11 tackles and three sacks. Sam was cut by the Rams after training camp. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys' practice roster but was waived in October. He took another shot at landing an NFL job by attending this year's veterans combine, with no luck.
The Alouettes had Sam on their negotiation list and General Manager Jim Popp said he was in contact with him all along. The six-foot-two 260-pound Sam finally accepted a contract after completing his commitment to Dancing With The Stars.
“I am very excited and proud to join the Montreal Alouettes and want to thank team Owner Robert Wetenhall, General Manager Jim Popp and Head Coach Tom Higgins for this opportunity,” declared the Alouettes newest member. “I cannot wait to put on the pads, get back on the field and work hard each and every day with my teammates to bring a Grey Cup to the great fans here in Montreal.”
Popp said Sam was considered a "tweener" by NFL clubs, not quite the right body type to be a defensive end or an outside linebacker for that league.
But he may fit perfectly in the CFL. Popp feels he can follow a similar path to Cam Wake, who was converted from linebacker to rush end when he joined the B.C. Lions in 2007.
Wake had 40 sacks and was named CFL defensive player of the year in each of his two seasons with the Lions before signing with the Miami Dolphins, where he has had a successful NFL career.
"If he proves [NFL] people wrong it would be great for us and I think he can do it," said Popp.
CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge congratulated the Alouettes Friday. "Congratulations to the Montreal Alouettes on the signing of Michael Sam," Orridge said in a statement. "Our players come to us from different places, different walks of life and ultimately they take different paths to get to our fields."Today is another indication of how open and progressive the CFL is — consistent with our rich and storied history of great football tradition."
Not blind to Sam's celebrity status, the team immediately put his No. 94 Alouettes jersey on sale on their website for $139.95.
We’re just happy to see the first openly gay pro football player get a shot at actually playing football.
Copied from files via: CBC Sports & Montreal Alouettes
