Michael Sam, who last year became the first openly gay player drafted by a National Football League team, said on Friday he was stepping away from football, citing concerns over his mental health.
The Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes, with whom he signed a contract in May, said on its team website that Sam had left the team for personal reasons and as a result had been placed on the team's suspended list.
"The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health," Sam wrote on his Twitter account. "Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time."
"Thank you all for your understanding and support," he added.
The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health. Because of this I am 1/3
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 14, 2015
going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon. Thank 2/3
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 14, 2015
The St. Louis Rams selected Sam in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft but waived him in the final round of cuts. He was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys but they released him from their practice squad in October.
Sam agreed to a two-year deal with the Alouettes this summer. It also reported that he sat out the team's first five games and that he failed to record a tackle during his team debut on August 7.
He's a joke. Drama queen really. He's not a football player....
ReplyDeleteDude was defense player of the year.. Lots of talent, but has probably had alot of grief due to him being the first openly gay football player. Not much different than Willie Mays.. It's a pretty manly sport and no telling what he has been subjected to. Probably a lot of whispers in the locker room etc.. I know when I was younger in Texas playing ball,we would have given a gay guy so much hell that they wouldn't last a single day of practice
ReplyDelete. that's a long time ago, but I'm pretty sure things haven't changed too much, especially in the pros..the first guy doing anything not normal,has to have tremendous faith that he's doing the right thing, even knowing he will be put through living hell..WHO knows if it is ever truly accepted.. Maybe it should just be don't ask don't tell like the military.. I'm not a big fan of the gay lifestyle, but he needs a chance and has busted his butt playing football most of his life." No pun intended ".I'm bipolar and you don't get the benefit of the doubt in most instances, so stigma is stigma.. Hope he gets through this and has a career in Canada and doesn't blow his head off..
By the way, been a huge cowboys fan since birth, but I'm growing up finally and try not to be so critical about 1 gay dude playing football. Think homophobe wrote the pryor comment.. Grow up bro.. He could probably rip your head off.. Haha..
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