http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...-football--cites-mental-health-234721931.html
After a decorated final college season at Missouri, it has been a difficult run for Sam, who was taken in the seventh round of the 2014 draft by the
St. Louis Rams but cut after last preseason. After a spell on the
Dallas Cowboys' practice squad last fall, he was cut loose and never hooked up with another NFL club.
Then, after struggling to impress at the NFL veterans combine, Sam got his next chance with the Alouettes, and it appeared to be a good landing spot. He was excited, as was the team, and it appeared Sam had a chance to carve out a niche up north in the wide-open Canadian game as a pass rusher.
But Sam left the team early in his tenure under mysterious circumstances, as rumors circulated about his personal life. Sam returned and the team welcomed him back, but after a short spell — and only one game appearance —
he was a noticeable absentee for the team's game this week against the Edmonton Eskimos, and more conjecture about his future swirled.
It turns out that the speculation was rooted in some reality with Sam's announcement on Friday.
It's a sad turn for the first openly gay professional football player, but this might be the best thing for him if he's truly experiencing mental-health concerns. And Sam clearly has thought this through by now.
Is his professional football career over? Sam seemed to leave the door cracked a bit, but a return to the NFL seems all but over at this point.
