Michael Sam leaves Montreal Alouettes camp for 'personal reasons'

[big dog cowboy]

Michael Sam leaves Montreal Alouettes camp for 'personal reasons'
By Frank Schwab
6 hours ago
Shutdown Corner

Michael Sam left the Montreal Alouettes the day before their preseason opener for "personal reasons," the team said.

The exact nature of why he left isn't known yet. According to a statement from the team, Sam asked for permission to return home for personal reasons. The team granted that request and said "the nature of this decision will remain confidential."

"The Montreal Alouettes fully respect Michael Sam's decision and rally around him to offer him all time and support needed," the statement, via Jamie Thomas of sportsnet.ca, said. "The team has left the door open and Michael is welcome to come back whenever he feel ready."

This could be related to just about anything, but the statement doesn't sound like this was a quick trip home to deal with a family-related matter and he plans to be back in a day or two. But there's no indication why Sam asked to go back home.

Sam, who had been out of work since the Dallas Cowboys released him off their practice squad during last season, signed on with the Alouettes on May 22. Sam was the first openly gay player to ever be drafted into the NFL, when the St. Louis Rams chose him in the seventh round in 2014.

Read more: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...tes-camp-for--personal-reasons-214620731.html

 

[Longboysfan]

Is he back in the area to file for unemployment?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Is he back in the area to file for unemployment?

Last I read it didn't sound like he was planning to return.

 

[EST_1986]

Last I read it didn't sound like he was planning to return.

They suspended him is the latest I seen

 

[Longboysfan]

Last I read it didn't sound like he was planning to return.

Good. is he a starter on their Defense?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Good. is he a starter on their Defense?

No he was going to struggle to make the team.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Stories I've read said they suspended him for leaving the team unexpectedly. A few stories say he left the team before the first preseason game because he didn't think he would make the team. Another story said a teammate said he wasn't a very good football player and he took it very personally.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

He had been missing as a result of a virus, but no one will say what the virus is. Given the secretive nature of the events, I of course first thought Human immuno virus

 

[jnday]

No he was going to struggle to make the team.

That is impossible. I read on this board that he had great talent due to his DPOY in the SEC and he was not being treated fairly because he was gay. I have said from day one that he was not a pro quality player and he only wanted attention. Others supported him because it was the PC thing to do and they didn't want to be labeled as hateful .

 

[big dog cowboy]

Report: Michael Sam 'pouting' after teammate's comment

Larry Brown Sports
From Yardbarker

By Steve DelVecchio

Michael Sam’s career with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes may be over before it started, but the team’s general manager is leaving the door open for Sam to come back.

If Sam does not return to the Alouettes, Jim Popp speculates that the former Missouri star’s football days will likely be over.

“There’s nothing to tell you. He wanted to go home, and that’s what he did,” Popp told Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette. “I don’t know why. When a guy wants to go home, they go home. He had some personal things to take care of.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he returns. I’m surprised he left. I was very surprised. If he doesn’t come back, I would think football’s over for him. He’s the one that has to face that. But I don’t think he doesn’t want to play football. That’s why he came here.”

Sam has been placed on the Alouettes suspended list, and a source told Zurkowsky that the likelihood of Sam returning to the team is “non-existent.” Another source speculated that Sam left after overreacting to a comment a teammate made about him.

“All I know is I heard somebody made a comment about him, about how he wasn’t very good and wasn’t having a very good camp,” the person said. “He took it personally and was pouting in his room. It’s very strange. I have no idea what’s going on. He might have a personal issue.”

The whole situation is bizarre, as Sam certainly seemed excited for the opportunity when he made these comments after signing with the Alouettes. It will be interesting to see if he returns or just gives up on football altogether.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/report-michael-sam-pouting-after-teammates-comment/ar-BBld4yE

© Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images A teammate of Michael Sam's on the Montreal Alouettes reportedly said something that made the former Missouri standout pout and leave camp.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

That is impossible. I read on this board that he had great talent due to his DPOY in the SEC and he was not being treated fairly because he was gay. I have said from day one that he was not a pro quality player and he only wanted attention. Others supported him because it was the PC thing to do and they didn't want to be labeled as hateful .

I supported him. I'm not PC at all. I thought he should have at least been given a chance considering his college success. I know he lacked ideal NFL athleticism but plenty of players with similar college success and similar athleticism have played well in the NFL. I don't know if being gay had anything to do with him not being given a chance in the NFL. I just know that most coaches would at least take a look at a guy's skills despite the lack of athleticism considering how much success he had. Maybe they looked and didn't think he was cut out for the NFL. Same thing happened to Tebow. Or maybe they sensed he was a headcase and constantly tried to make a news story around him. I had no problem with him being gay and I didn't think it would affect his chances in the NFL. I don't know if it did. I think Michael Sam's issues are beyond lack of athleticism or sexual orientation. I think his issues are that he always wants to be in the center of things. Every time we start to forget about him, I read a news story that he said this or did that. Like the above article said, he has personal issues. Reminds me of Manziel being so self absorbed that he thinks every little aspect of himself is news worthy. I guess that's the mindset you develop when the media constantly feeds you that perception about yourself.

 

[jnday]

I supported him. I'm not PC at all. I thought he should have at least been given a chance considering his college success. I know he lacked ideal NFL athleticism but plenty of players with similar college success and similar athleticism have played well in the NFL. I don't know if being gay had anything to do with him not being given a chance in the NFL. I just know that most coaches would at least take a look at a guy's skills despite the lack of athleticism considering how much success he had. Maybe they looked and didn't think he was cut out for the NFL. Same thing happened to Tebow. Or maybe they sensed he was a headcase and constantly tried to make a news story around him. I had no problem with him being gay and I didn't think it would affect his chances in the NFL. I don't know if it did. I think Michael Sam's issues are beyond lack of athleticism or sexual orientation. I think his issues are that he always wants to be in the center of things. Every time we start to forget about him, I read a news story that he said this or did that. Like the above article said, he has personal issues. Reminds me of Manziel being so self absorbed that he thinks every little aspect of himself is news worthy. I guess that's the mindset you develop when the media constantly feeds you that perception about yourself.

Tebow never asked for the attention. His religious beliefs and the way he expressed them brought on a lot of the attention . He was also considered one of the top college players and some labeled him as the best college player ever. I don't really agree with that label, but he was very good at that level. Sam, on the other hand , went out of his way to get attention with the media . He repeatedly said that he didn't want to be labeled as a "gay" football player and he wanted to labeled as a football player only. His actions didn't support his words. He went out of his way to have a press conference to discuss his sexuality. If being gay was not what he wanted to be remembered for , it could have fooled me. The press conference spoke volumes to me about his true intentions. I don't think he is a good football player and I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Fisher was asked by the league to draft Sam to avoid the backlash from the gay community. Since that time, Sam has not shown himself to have the talent to play pro football . He was not doing well in Canada when he left. He seems to have a problem with his 15 minutes of fame coming to an end.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't think he is a good football player and I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Fisher was asked by the league to draft Sam to avoid the backlash from the gay community. Since that time, Sam has not shown himself to have the talent to play pro football . He was not doing well in Canada when he left. He seems to have a problem with his 15 minutes of fame coming to an end.

Nailed all of those points. I have and always will wonder if the league started calling teams as the draft started to wind down asking them if they would consider drafting Sam. By the time the games begin in a couple of months he will be forgotten.

 

[BAZ]

I have and always will wonder if the league started calling teams as the draft started to wind down asking them if they would consider drafting Sam.

I always enjoyed this conspiracy theory but then I look at a player like Swain get drafted and it seems a little far fetched.

 

[erod]

He's suffering from lack of cameras.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I always enjoyed this conspiracy theory but then I look at a player like Swain get drafted and it seems a little far fetched.

What does Swain have to do with Sam?

 

[BAZ]

What does Swain have to do with Sam?

Sams resume just seem a lot more impressive so why not take a flier in him with a 7th.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Sams resume just seem a lot more impressive so why not take a flier in him with a 7th.

College results don't always transfer to the pros. He was drafted in the 7th by the Rams. He was a good college player. But he can't play special teams and that is what those need to do to stick around. Now he isn't even in the CFL any more. The bottom line is he just isn't a NFL talent.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Tebow never asked for the attention. His religious beliefs and the way he expressed them brought on a lot of the attention . He was also considered one of the top college players and some labeled him as the best college player ever. I don't really agree with that label, but he was very good at that level. Sam, on the other hand , went out of his way to get attention with the media . He repeatedly said that he didn't want to be labeled as a "gay" football player and he wanted to labeled as a football player only. His actions didn't support his words. He went out of his way to have a press conference to discuss his sexuality. If being gay was not what he wanted to be remembered for , it could have fooled me. The press conference spoke volumes to me about his true intentions. I don't think he is a good football player and I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Fisher was asked by the league to draft Sam to avoid the backlash from the gay community. Since that time, Sam has not shown himself to have the talent to play pro football . He was not doing well in Canada when he left. He seems to have a problem with his 15 minutes of fame coming to an end.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was saying Tebow was similar to Sam in the sense that both were good college players but neither were cut out for the NFL. Then I said that Manziel was similar to Sam in the sense that they both always want to be in the center of things.

 

[thinwhiteduke]

he was nothing but a media creation to begin with. The NFL paid him for his gay storyline and said bye bye