Now that Michael Sam has been cut by the St. Louis Rams, questions abound about what’s next for the defensive end who earlier this year became the NFL’s first openly gay player. And Twitter reaction to the Rams' decision was decidedly mixed.
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NFL analysts and insiders tell the Washington Post that after a productive season, he likely will remain in the league, though it is unclear where or what his roster status will be. He could re-sign with the Rams as part of its 10-member practice squad.
“You’d have to think he’ll probably end up on their [the Rams’] practice squad,” a front office executive from another NFL team told the Post, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to be viewed as prying into another team’s business. “They know him better than anyone else. He played pretty well. He’s probably, what, their 55th or 56th guy, something like that? He’s a guy that looks like he could get called up to your roster if someone gets hurt.”
Sam could also sign with another team.
“I do think there’s a chance of that,” the front office executive told the Post about the possibility that Sam could be picked up by another team. “He played well enough [during the preseason] for a team with a need on the defensive line to consider that. He would have to be clearly better than the guy you already have as your last defensive lineman on your roster, and he’d have more to learn about your system than that guy. So that’s tough. But you never know.”
One agent who doesn’t represent Sam told the Post that teams that might consider signing him could include Dallas, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Tampa, New England, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Oakland, Carolina and the New York Giants. But the agent added that he viewed any of those teams signing Sam as a long shot and he thinks Sam will be re-signed to the Rams’ practice squad.