Rams Rookie Profile: Michael Sam
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Michael Sam feeling at home in St. Louis
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/9047/sam-feeling-at-home-in-st-louis
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The spotlight that shined so bright on Michael Sam immediately after the St. Louis Rams drafted him has dimmed.
The majority of the media attention that once engulfed Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL, has moved on. Since he came out on ESPN in February, Sam has consistently insisted that he wants it to be all about football.
There have been hiccups along the way, including an excruciating wait to be selected 249th in May's draft and the ensuing Oprah Winfrey Network "docu-series" which had many wondering whether his focus really was solely on making the roster at one of the team's most crowded positions.
As Sam spoke Friday for the first time since the team started organized team activities, the media horde was about a third the size of the group that watched him go through a conditioning workout last month and maybe a tenth of the one that attended his introductory news conference.
Asked what it was like to finally be back on the field and practicing, Sam lit up.
"It's been a long time coming," Sam said. "Last year during this time I was already playing football at spring practice, but it's really good to put my helmet on and get out there and grind."
Along with that grind comes the most important task in this whole deal: making the roster. It's no secret the Rams are well-stocked at defensive end with the quartet of Robert Quinn, Chris Long, William Hayes and Eugene Sims firmly entrenched in their spots on the depth chart.
The Rams have carried additional defensive linemen in the past, employing a fifth end and ninth lineman for the majority of last season. The journey to staking a claim to an additional spot began in earnest after he was drafted, but has elevated to a new level with the beginning of OTAs.
As with most rookies, the adjustment to the size and speed of his teammates has been an eye-opening experience and isn't limited to the offensive linemen he's lining up against. Sam has also been impressed by the talent and depth of the defensive linemen with whom he shares a meeting room.
"I'm telling you they get after it," Sam said. "They compete. I have got to step my game up to compete with this defensive line. I thought our defensive line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level; I've got to up my game.
"The speed, the strength, everything. Coach [Mike] Waufle is getting this defensive line right. This defensive line is probably one of the best in the country."
That said, Sam hasn't lacked for opportunities in the early OTA sessions. With Hayes not practicing, Sam is getting repetitions with the No. 2 defense at left defensive end. In addition, he's working on special teams, an area he's vaguely familiar with from his time at Mizzou but needs refreshing. He is also working to shed a few pounds from his listed weight of 261 pounds in an effort to improve his speed and contribute on coverage units.
In Thursday's practice, Sam even made his presence felt in a minor scuffle with running back Isaiah Pead. After the pair got tangled during a play, Pead shoved Sam who responded with a shove of his own. It was quickly broken up in no small part because coach Jeff Fisher had already made it clear fighting had gone too far after a pair of earlier dust-ups.
Sam's time not spent on the field has been used almost exclusively in trying to learn a new defense and the many nuances of coordinator Gregg Williams' scheme.
Williams is constantly buzzing around the practices and making his voice heard during drills, and Sam has quickly picked up on the idea that if he is doing the wrong thing, Williams will let him hear about it. Sam said he has seen plenty of similarities to Mizzou defensive coordinator Les Steckel and defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski.
Sam has also leaned on veteran ends Long and Quinn in the early going and has benefited from the Rams' former Mizzou players like receiver T.J. Moe, center Tim Barnes and cornerback E.J. Gaines as he acclimates.
Soon after drafting Sam, the Rams endeavored to find ways to make him feel comfortable. They brought in Wade Davis, the former Tennessee Titan and current executive director of the You Can Play project, which is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes regardless of sexual orientation.
Davis spent time talking to the Rams' players, coaches and staff members and answered any questions thrown his way. It's just one example of how the Rams have made Sam feel at ease.
"It's a comfortable environment," Sam said. "Coach Fisher and the rest of the staff are making this a comfortable environment for me and it is.
"I almost feel like home, which it is home. It is still Missouri."
Now comes the hard part: doing enough on the field to make it a more permanent residence.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/9047/sam-feeling-at-home-in-st-louis
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The spotlight that shined so bright on Michael Sam immediately after the St. Louis Rams drafted him has dimmed.
The majority of the media attention that once engulfed Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL, has moved on. Since he came out on ESPN in February, Sam has consistently insisted that he wants it to be all about football.
There have been hiccups along the way, including an excruciating wait to be selected 249th in May's draft and the ensuing Oprah Winfrey Network "docu-series" which had many wondering whether his focus really was solely on making the roster at one of the team's most crowded positions.
As Sam spoke Friday for the first time since the team started organized team activities, the media horde was about a third the size of the group that watched him go through a conditioning workout last month and maybe a tenth of the one that attended his introductory news conference.
Asked what it was like to finally be back on the field and practicing, Sam lit up.
"It's been a long time coming," Sam said. "Last year during this time I was already playing football at spring practice, but it's really good to put my helmet on and get out there and grind."
Along with that grind comes the most important task in this whole deal: making the roster. It's no secret the Rams are well-stocked at defensive end with the quartet of Robert Quinn, Chris Long, William Hayes and Eugene Sims firmly entrenched in their spots on the depth chart.
The Rams have carried additional defensive linemen in the past, employing a fifth end and ninth lineman for the majority of last season. The journey to staking a claim to an additional spot began in earnest after he was drafted, but has elevated to a new level with the beginning of OTAs.
As with most rookies, the adjustment to the size and speed of his teammates has been an eye-opening experience and isn't limited to the offensive linemen he's lining up against. Sam has also been impressed by the talent and depth of the defensive linemen with whom he shares a meeting room.
"I'm telling you they get after it," Sam said. "They compete. I have got to step my game up to compete with this defensive line. I thought our defensive line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level; I've got to up my game.
"The speed, the strength, everything. Coach [Mike] Waufle is getting this defensive line right. This defensive line is probably one of the best in the country."
That said, Sam hasn't lacked for opportunities in the early OTA sessions. With Hayes not practicing, Sam is getting repetitions with the No. 2 defense at left defensive end. In addition, he's working on special teams, an area he's vaguely familiar with from his time at Mizzou but needs refreshing. He is also working to shed a few pounds from his listed weight of 261 pounds in an effort to improve his speed and contribute on coverage units.
In Thursday's practice, Sam even made his presence felt in a minor scuffle with running back Isaiah Pead. After the pair got tangled during a play, Pead shoved Sam who responded with a shove of his own. It was quickly broken up in no small part because coach Jeff Fisher had already made it clear fighting had gone too far after a pair of earlier dust-ups.
Sam's time not spent on the field has been used almost exclusively in trying to learn a new defense and the many nuances of coordinator Gregg Williams' scheme.
Williams is constantly buzzing around the practices and making his voice heard during drills, and Sam has quickly picked up on the idea that if he is doing the wrong thing, Williams will let him hear about it. Sam said he has seen plenty of similarities to Mizzou defensive coordinator Les Steckel and defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski.
Sam has also leaned on veteran ends Long and Quinn in the early going and has benefited from the Rams' former Mizzou players like receiver T.J. Moe, center Tim Barnes and cornerback E.J. Gaines as he acclimates.
Soon after drafting Sam, the Rams endeavored to find ways to make him feel comfortable. They brought in Wade Davis, the former Tennessee Titan and current executive director of the You Can Play project, which is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes regardless of sexual orientation.
Davis spent time talking to the Rams' players, coaches and staff members and answered any questions thrown his way. It's just one example of how the Rams have made Sam feel at ease.
"It's a comfortable environment," Sam said. "Coach Fisher and the rest of the staff are making this a comfortable environment for me and it is.
"I almost feel like home, which it is home. It is still Missouri."
Now comes the hard part: doing enough on the field to make it a more permanent residence.
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LesBaker
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I think so too and he was the first that came to mind. Quinn is a tremendously grounded person too and he would also be an excellent choice. Of course we don't know how either of those guys feel about homosexuality so there is that.
I still think it is amazing that the entire college team kept the whole thing under wraps.
LesBaker
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I bet large coin because he is going to be on the roster. I think I bet a quarter mil. or 300K.........
SierraRam
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I bet large coin because he is going to be on the roster. I think I bet a quarter mil. or 300K.........
HA! - it takes money to make money Rockefeller! I'm still betting like its real.
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Finally, football for Michael Sam
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_8d1d7608-603c-57ab-90cd-6222b39cf7b5.html
There was no media hullabaloo this time for Michael Sam. No podium. Not even a Rams backdrop. The vast majority of the questions had to do with — surprise — football, rather than sexual orientation.
After sweating out two hours of practice on a warm, humid Friday afternoon, Sam to a large degree was a football player first.
Four weeks removed from the draft, and after completing his first week of practices, a sense of normality seems to be setting in for Sam, the All-American defensive end from Missouri, and yes, the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL.
It’s apparent that just getting back on the football field these last few weeks has been huge for Sam.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Sam said, with an audible sigh of relief. “You know what, it feels good to put my helmet on and get out there.”
Just 27 days have passed since the Rams selected Sam with the third of their four seventh-round picks in this year’s draft. So making any broad generalizations about his future with the team, or how he’s fitting in with his teammates, would be way premature.
But in speaking Friday to maybe a dozen reporters — as opposed to the 100 who “greeted” him at his introductory Rams news conference May 13 — Sam said the transition has been seamless so far.
“They respect me as a human being, and as a football player,” Sam said, referring to his new teammates. “All the older guys, all the older vets, are showing me the ropes so I can see how the program is run. Chris (Long) is a great mentor. So is Robert Quinn and all those guys.”
In these opening weeks as an NFL player, the early adjustment period can be daunting for any roookie, even first-round draft picks. The operative word is — and will always be — “faster” when it comes to describing the difference from college to pro football.
That’s especially true when considering the deep and talented Rams defensive line.
“I’m telling you, they get after it,” Sam said. “I’ve got to compete. I’ve got to step my game up to compete with this defensive line. I thought our defensive line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level. ... The speed, the strength, the everything.”
That word “faster” also applies to the learning curve when it comes to comprhending an NFL defensive playbook.
“You’ve got to learn a lot more plays,” Sam said. “You’ve got to know what you’re doing. When the ball’s snapped, you’ve got to react.”
And not think.
Sam says he studies his playbook every night. And it’s not just to keep his coaches happy, but those veteran teammates as well.
“When you step on the field, the coaches expect that you know what you’re doing,” Sam said. “As a rookie, (the vet) expects you to know what you’re doing, too. You don’t want to mess up for that vet because he’ll probably get on you.”
The two coaches Sam is most accountable to on a daily basis are defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and defensive line coach Mike Waufle. He has a good early read and comfort level with both of those mentors based on their counterparts during Sam’s days at Mizzou.
“Coach Williams is crazy just like Coach Steck, (Dave Steckel),” Sam said with a laugh. “And Kul (Craig Kuligowski) is on that borderline just like Coach Waufle. So they’re pretty much the same.”
Even during the more relaxed spring setting it’s difficult to get every player on a 90-man roster a ton of work in 11-on-11 periods. Particularly when you’re a third-teamer, as is the case with Sam on the Rams’ D-line.
But with William Hayes rehabbing an injury, Sam has also gotten work with the second-team defense. Every practice rep counts, even this early into the buildup for the 2014 season.
Even so, there’s only so much that the big fellas can show at this time because no pads can be worn and full contact is not allowed during these spring practices.
“It’s very hard to evaluate the guys up front without pads,” coach Jeff Fisher said, speaking of both the offensive and defensive linemen. “But getting them to understand what they need to do, and how to do it, is important.”
Like many other young players on the Rams’ roster, that’s the stage where Sam finds himself right now. If Sam is to make the final roster in September, part of that learning process must include a contribution on special teams.
Sam played some special teams during his time at Mizzou, but is getting back in the swing of things — NFL style — in the early going at Rams Park.
“I’ve got to lose a little bit more weight to get my speed back for special teams,” said Sam, who is listed at 261 pounds on the Rams roster. “I don’t want to be heavy playing special teams.”
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Michael Sam knows he needs to step up his game
Posted by Mike Florio on June 7, 2014
AP
Less than four weeks after he became a member of the Rams, defensive end Michael Sam knows that much work remains to be done if he’s going to make the team in September.
“I’ve got to step my game up to compete with this defensive line,” Sam said Friday, via David Morrison of USA Today. “I thought our defensive line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level. I’ve got to up my game.”
Making Sam’s challenge a little less complicated is that his status as the first openly gay NFL player has been a non-issue for his teammates.
“They respect me as a human being,” Sam said, via the Associated Press. “And as a football player.”
Teammate Chris Long confirmed it’s not an issue.
“Only the media cares,” Long said, via the Associated Press. “The players don’t care, we just care about what kind of football player you are. We got a steal in whatever round we took him in.”
To truly be a steal, Sam has to win one of those coveted 53 spots on the roster. He’s got less than three months to do it.
Rams' Michael Sam: 'I've got to step my game up'
David Morrison, special to USA TODAY Sports
EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long stood in a semi-circle of reporters after the team's organized team activity Friday, answering a question about LeBron James' Thursday night leg cramps in the NBA Finals.
Michael Sam's voice cut into Long's answer, ringing out over the practice fields from 30 yards away.
"Hey, Chris!" Sam shouted.
"Michael, how are you?" Long responded, then turned back to the group of reporters.
"Rookies, man."
Sam, who became the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL when the Rams took him in the seventh round May 10, is trying to prove himself to his new coaches and teammates, hoping to be one of the 53 players that makes the final roster at the end of preseason.
Sam's Feb. 9 announcement, when he came out to the world via an appearance on ESPN and a story in the New York Times, is behind him.
The drama surrounding whether he would be drafted, along with the controversial kiss he shared with his boyfriend on national television when the Rams picked him, is as well.
The proposed Oprah Winfrey Network documentary following his quest to make the Rams — not disclosed to teams before the draft but announced by the network May 14, then indefinitely postponed two days later — has fallen by the wayside.
Now he's just another rookie. Sam said it's a welcome development.
"It's been a long time coming," Sam said. "Last year, during this time, I was already playing football past spring practice. But you know what? It felt good to put my helmet on and get out there. Grind."
The 6-2, 261-pound Sam, a unanimous All-American during his senior season at Missouri last fall, worked behind Long at left defensive end while regular second-teamer William Hayes sat out with an injury.
Sam is trying to carve out a niche on a line that was already stacked before his arrival, one that helped the Rams finish third in the NFL with 53 sacks last year. Long and reigning NFC sack leader Robert Quinn are two of the most productive edge rushers in the league.
"I've got to step my game up to compete with this defensive line," Sam said. "I thought our defensive line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level. I've got to up my game."
Sam showed some growing pains during Friday's session, getting pinned inside on a couple of outside run plays and getting off balance trying to outflank second-year tackle Travis Bond during a red-zone pass rush.
Bond gave him a shove as he ran by. Sam slid to the turf.
"It's good playing with a vet that knows what they're doing," Sam said of playing with the team's established defensive linemen. "As a rookie, he's expecting you to know what you're doing. You don't want to mess up for that vet, because he's probably going to get on you."
He did show glimpses of the quickness and tenacity that helped him lead the Southeastern Conference in sacks last fall.
During an 11-on-11 drill, Sam brushed off a chip block from a tight end and closed in on the quarterback, forcing an incompletion and drawing a "Good job, Mike," from one of his teammates.
Sam also worked some with the punt protection and punt block special-teams units. He played special teams early in his Missouri career.
"He's learning his role here. We've got such a deep D-line, he's going to fight for his position," Quinn said. "He gives it 110% while he's out here. He wants to learn his playbook, wants to help his team win.
"He's a football player here. That's all that really matters."
Sam said playing with the Rams "almost feels like home."
Three former Missouri teammates — center Tim Barnes, cornerback E.J. Gaines and wideout T.J. Moe — are on the roster. Sam said St. Louis defensive coordinator Gregg Williams reminds him of Tigers counterpart Dave Steckel — both are "crazy" — while defensive line coach Mike Waufle reminds him of Missouri defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski.
The Rams also brought Wade Davis, a former NFL player and executive director of the You Can Play Project advocacy group for gay and lesbian athletes, in shortly after the draft to talk with Rams players about having a gay teammate.
Sam said he appreciated the gesture, though he didn't think it was necessary.
"They respect me as a human being and as a football player," he said of his St. Louis teammates.
That's about all he had to say on the issue of his sexuality Friday.
Just like the rest of the team's rookies, Sam will fill his nights with studying the playbook and his days with translating what he's learned onto the field. After all, he'sgot a roster to make.
"When he got drafted, we drafted him because he was a football player. The other stuff is whatever," Quinn said. "We've got to throw that out the window. You can't judge a man off things in his personal life.
"He proved himself while he was in college. As long as he does that here, what's there really to complain about?"
Michael Sam: No issues fitting in with Rams
By R.B. FALLSTROM
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Michael Sam is confident he'll be judged on performance.
The first openly gay player drafted in the NFL said Friday there have been no issues fitting in with his St. Louis Rams teammates, no awkward moments in the locker room and that he was accepted right away.
"They respect me as a human being," he said. "And as a football player."
Being a bit of a cut-up helps cut the ice, too. Sam skipped all of the media days last season at Missouri while saving his announcement for February, but teammates will tell you he has quite a sense of humor and is not the least bit sensitive about off-color jokes that can fly behind closed doors.
"If anybody had any reservations about who he was to begin with, he wins them over pretty quick," said wide receiver T.J. Moe, who played with Sam at Missouri. "They're laughing so hard, they can't breathe."
Defensive tackle Michael Brockers said Sam was asked to stand up and tell a joke on Friday. The verdict: "Totally funny."
"We don't really focus on the outside stuff," Brockers added. "He's our brother, he's on our D-line and that's where it sits."
Working out with the full squad this week, Sam realizes he must step up his game to carve out a spot on a loaded defensive line. He said he's spending a lot of time poring over the playbook, too.
No doubt the Rams will give Sam every chance to succeed. But like any seventh-round pick, it's an uphill battle.
"It's faster, you've got to learn a lot more plays, you've got to know what you're doing," Sam said after a two-hour session. "You're supposed to perform at a high level and I'm doing pretty good."
Sam got a lot of snaps at left end with the second team defense, moving up on the depth chart because veteran William Hayes is rehabbing from an injury. He's been getting a lot of work on special teams, where the Rams might break him in.
The Rams had one of the top pass rushes in the NFL last year with ends Robert Quinn, second in the NFL in sacks, and Chris Long both former first-round picks. So are tackles Brockers and rookie Aaron Donald, plus Kendall Langford was a major free agent pickup a year ago.
"I'm telling you, they get after it," Sam said. "I thought our D-line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level."
Everyone, Sam said, has been willing to help. Nobody, Long said, gives a hoot about the fact he's gay.
"Only the media cares," Long said. "The players don't care, we just care about what kind of football player you are.
"We got a steal in whatever round we took him in."
Players picked way ahead of him don't seem to mind that Sam's getting more attention.
"He's a cool guy," Donald said. "We get along well and we're trying to get ready for the season together."
The 260-pound Sam was the SEC co-defensive player of the year last season. After the Rams took him with the 249th overall pick late in the seventh round, general manager Les Snead called him a designated pass rusher.
Sam said he's probably going to have to shed some weight to be effective on special teams.
Among the early goals for the Rams (7-9) is getting Greg Robinson, the second overall pick, accustomed to a new position. Robinson was a tackle at Auburn and the Rams have him at guard.
"I can get my hands on them faster, so it's something I think I can grow into," Robinson said. "But I'm a little rusty. It's been a while since I played guard."
Veterans were challenged, too, by new wrinkles in the playbook.
"Just knocking the rust off, I think, is the biggest thing," Brockers said. "Like coach Fisher said, we're not going to win the division in these next few OTAs."
Posted by Mike Florio on June 7, 2014
Less than four weeks after he became a member of the Rams, defensive end Michael Sam knows that much work remains to be done if he’s going to make the team in September.
“I’ve got to step my game up to compete with this defensive line,” Sam said Friday, via David Morrison of USA Today. “I thought our defensive line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level. I’ve got to up my game.”
Making Sam’s challenge a little less complicated is that his status as the first openly gay NFL player has been a non-issue for his teammates.
“They respect me as a human being,” Sam said, via the Associated Press. “And as a football player.”
Teammate Chris Long confirmed it’s not an issue.
“Only the media cares,” Long said, via the Associated Press. “The players don’t care, we just care about what kind of football player you are. We got a steal in whatever round we took him in.”
To truly be a steal, Sam has to win one of those coveted 53 spots on the roster. He’s got less than three months to do it.
Rams' Michael Sam: 'I've got to step my game up'
David Morrison, special to USA TODAY Sports
EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long stood in a semi-circle of reporters after the team's organized team activity Friday, answering a question about LeBron James' Thursday night leg cramps in the NBA Finals.
Michael Sam's voice cut into Long's answer, ringing out over the practice fields from 30 yards away.
"Hey, Chris!" Sam shouted.
"Michael, how are you?" Long responded, then turned back to the group of reporters.
"Rookies, man."
Sam, who became the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL when the Rams took him in the seventh round May 10, is trying to prove himself to his new coaches and teammates, hoping to be one of the 53 players that makes the final roster at the end of preseason.
Sam's Feb. 9 announcement, when he came out to the world via an appearance on ESPN and a story in the New York Times, is behind him.
The drama surrounding whether he would be drafted, along with the controversial kiss he shared with his boyfriend on national television when the Rams picked him, is as well.
The proposed Oprah Winfrey Network documentary following his quest to make the Rams — not disclosed to teams before the draft but announced by the network May 14, then indefinitely postponed two days later — has fallen by the wayside.
Now he's just another rookie. Sam said it's a welcome development.
"It's been a long time coming," Sam said. "Last year, during this time, I was already playing football past spring practice. But you know what? It felt good to put my helmet on and get out there. Grind."
The 6-2, 261-pound Sam, a unanimous All-American during his senior season at Missouri last fall, worked behind Long at left defensive end while regular second-teamer William Hayes sat out with an injury.
Sam is trying to carve out a niche on a line that was already stacked before his arrival, one that helped the Rams finish third in the NFL with 53 sacks last year. Long and reigning NFC sack leader Robert Quinn are two of the most productive edge rushers in the league.
"I've got to step my game up to compete with this defensive line," Sam said. "I thought our defensive line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level. I've got to up my game."
Sam showed some growing pains during Friday's session, getting pinned inside on a couple of outside run plays and getting off balance trying to outflank second-year tackle Travis Bond during a red-zone pass rush.
Bond gave him a shove as he ran by. Sam slid to the turf.
"It's good playing with a vet that knows what they're doing," Sam said of playing with the team's established defensive linemen. "As a rookie, he's expecting you to know what you're doing. You don't want to mess up for that vet, because he's probably going to get on you."
He did show glimpses of the quickness and tenacity that helped him lead the Southeastern Conference in sacks last fall.
During an 11-on-11 drill, Sam brushed off a chip block from a tight end and closed in on the quarterback, forcing an incompletion and drawing a "Good job, Mike," from one of his teammates.
Sam also worked some with the punt protection and punt block special-teams units. He played special teams early in his Missouri career.
"He's learning his role here. We've got such a deep D-line, he's going to fight for his position," Quinn said. "He gives it 110% while he's out here. He wants to learn his playbook, wants to help his team win.
"He's a football player here. That's all that really matters."
Sam said playing with the Rams "almost feels like home."
Three former Missouri teammates — center Tim Barnes, cornerback E.J. Gaines and wideout T.J. Moe — are on the roster. Sam said St. Louis defensive coordinator Gregg Williams reminds him of Tigers counterpart Dave Steckel — both are "crazy" — while defensive line coach Mike Waufle reminds him of Missouri defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski.
The Rams also brought Wade Davis, a former NFL player and executive director of the You Can Play Project advocacy group for gay and lesbian athletes, in shortly after the draft to talk with Rams players about having a gay teammate.
Sam said he appreciated the gesture, though he didn't think it was necessary.
"They respect me as a human being and as a football player," he said of his St. Louis teammates.
That's about all he had to say on the issue of his sexuality Friday.
Just like the rest of the team's rookies, Sam will fill his nights with studying the playbook and his days with translating what he's learned onto the field. After all, he'sgot a roster to make.
"When he got drafted, we drafted him because he was a football player. The other stuff is whatever," Quinn said. "We've got to throw that out the window. You can't judge a man off things in his personal life.
"He proved himself while he was in college. As long as he does that here, what's there really to complain about?"
Michael Sam: No issues fitting in with Rams
By R.B. FALLSTROM
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Michael Sam is confident he'll be judged on performance.
The first openly gay player drafted in the NFL said Friday there have been no issues fitting in with his St. Louis Rams teammates, no awkward moments in the locker room and that he was accepted right away.
"They respect me as a human being," he said. "And as a football player."
Being a bit of a cut-up helps cut the ice, too. Sam skipped all of the media days last season at Missouri while saving his announcement for February, but teammates will tell you he has quite a sense of humor and is not the least bit sensitive about off-color jokes that can fly behind closed doors.
"If anybody had any reservations about who he was to begin with, he wins them over pretty quick," said wide receiver T.J. Moe, who played with Sam at Missouri. "They're laughing so hard, they can't breathe."
Defensive tackle Michael Brockers said Sam was asked to stand up and tell a joke on Friday. The verdict: "Totally funny."
"We don't really focus on the outside stuff," Brockers added. "He's our brother, he's on our D-line and that's where it sits."
Working out with the full squad this week, Sam realizes he must step up his game to carve out a spot on a loaded defensive line. He said he's spending a lot of time poring over the playbook, too.
No doubt the Rams will give Sam every chance to succeed. But like any seventh-round pick, it's an uphill battle.
"It's faster, you've got to learn a lot more plays, you've got to know what you're doing," Sam said after a two-hour session. "You're supposed to perform at a high level and I'm doing pretty good."
Sam got a lot of snaps at left end with the second team defense, moving up on the depth chart because veteran William Hayes is rehabbing from an injury. He's been getting a lot of work on special teams, where the Rams might break him in.
The Rams had one of the top pass rushes in the NFL last year with ends Robert Quinn, second in the NFL in sacks, and Chris Long both former first-round picks. So are tackles Brockers and rookie Aaron Donald, plus Kendall Langford was a major free agent pickup a year ago.
"I'm telling you, they get after it," Sam said. "I thought our D-line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level."
Everyone, Sam said, has been willing to help. Nobody, Long said, gives a hoot about the fact he's gay.
"Only the media cares," Long said. "The players don't care, we just care about what kind of football player you are.
"We got a steal in whatever round we took him in."
Players picked way ahead of him don't seem to mind that Sam's getting more attention.
"He's a cool guy," Donald said. "We get along well and we're trying to get ready for the season together."
The 260-pound Sam was the SEC co-defensive player of the year last season. After the Rams took him with the 249th overall pick late in the seventh round, general manager Les Snead called him a designated pass rusher.
Sam said he's probably going to have to shed some weight to be effective on special teams.
Among the early goals for the Rams (7-9) is getting Greg Robinson, the second overall pick, accustomed to a new position. Robinson was a tackle at Auburn and the Rams have him at guard.
"I can get my hands on them faster, so it's something I think I can grow into," Robinson said. "But I'm a little rusty. It's been a while since I played guard."
Veterans were challenged, too, by new wrinkles in the playbook.
"Just knocking the rust off, I think, is the biggest thing," Brockers said. "Like coach Fisher said, we're not going to win the division in these next few OTAs."
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ESPN The Magazine writer Dave Fleming joins ESPN Rams reporter Nick Wagoner to break down how the team is trying to make rookie Michael Sam comfortable as he acclimates to the NFL. (2:27)
Watch ESPN's Sam Story
Watch ESPN's Sam Story
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Chris long is far too intelligent to do something like this. Sure he has an edgy sense of humor but hes a smart guy and knows when and where its appropriate. I think youd be hard pressed to find a better mentor for any rookie around the NFL