Michael Sam made it almost to the end — but this afternoon the St. Louis Rams cut him from the team. Some reactions from social media.
Fisher on Michael Sam: “Mike’s got the ability. Mike played well. He has the ability to play some place. It’s got to be the right place.”
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 30, 2014
There are 31 other NFL teams who now have 24 hours to pick him up. After that, “there is a strong chance he will be signed as one of 10 practice squad players by the Rams,” Outsports explains. Sam was “a victim of the numbers game and not homophobia.”
“I’m very confident that I’ll be playing on a NFL roster this fall,” Sam said after the Miami game. “I made some big plays and I think — I know — I can play in this league.” We hope he gets the chance.
Reuters adds that 24-year-old Sam, “a standout with the University of Missouri who had announced he was gay in February, was one of 22 players waived in a final cut by the Rams to reach the roster limit before Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.”
Here’s what some notables said on Twitter:
Please stop praising the St. Louis Rams for having the “courage” for drafting Michael Sam three rounds past his draft position.
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) August 30, 2014
To be clear I’ve been saying forever that St. Louis was an awful spot for Sam because the d-line is stacked. Westbrooks was also amazing.
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) August 30, 2014
No history yet…Rams released DE Michael Sam. Prime practice-squad candidate.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2014
Michael Sam released by the @rams after his preseason I am confident it is not the end of the road.
— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) August 30, 2014
As far as Michael Sam goes, this is history delayed. He will likely be on either a 53-man NFL roster or a practice squad within a week.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 30, 2014
Jeff Fisher said he and Michael Sam ‘communicated’ Friday night about the Rams’ decision.
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 30, 2014
#MichaelSam worked hard stayed focused & positive under pressure. Bright future for him, bad karma for people celebrating his setback. #NFL
— Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) August 30, 2014
Zirin, who is the Sports editor at The Nation and host of Edge of Sports Radio for Sirius/XM, also had a few more thoughts about the homophobia aspect:
Wow. It’s like homophobia Christmas on twitter.
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) August 30, 2014
This is why twitter is the white hood of the 21st century: where bigots revel in their anonymity and rage against the current.
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) August 30, 2014
If you are an empty, lost person tweeting me your homophobic invective at Michael Sam, you’re getting blocked in spite of my pity for you.
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) August 30, 2014
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UPDATE — More reactions:
Stop saying it’s “only the media that cares about Michael Sam.” pic.twitter.com/yeAhEpupFA
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) August 30, 2014
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Image via Michael Sam on Twitter