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Michael Sam cut from Rams roster
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_a335c816-0b13-5381-a1ac-86a5fae30f81.html
Michael Sam's bid to become the first openly gay player to make an NFL regular-season roster won't come in St. Louis.
In making tough final decisions to pare the roster to the 53-man regular season limit, Sam was released by the Rams Saturday. The University of Missouri All-American and SEC defensive player of the year now goes on the waiver wire.
The other 31 teams in the NFL have until noon Sunday to claim Sam. If that doesn't happen, he becomes practice squad eligible.
"I will tell you this, I was pulling for Mike," coach Jeff Fisher said. "I really was. I don't say that very often. But I was. Mike came in here and did everything we asked him to do."
But in the end, Fisher said it was a football decision. The Rams decided to keep nine defensive linemen on the 53-man roster, and undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks of West Texas A&M claimed that final spot.
"Ethan was very, very productive in the preseason for us," Fisher said. "He played all four spots and is a very, very talented young player that I think has a really good future."
Fisher thinks Sam could have a future in the NFL, but was noncommittal when asked if the team would try to sign him to the practice squad.
"You know, I can't go there right now," Fisher said. "Coaches don't talk about practice squads. We have to see what happens as far as the (waiver) claims and things.
"We'll know better (Sunday) afternoon. And the practice squad is heavily dependent on what you do at other positions."
The Rams' 53-man roster is light at linebacker, with just five, and includes only two quarterbacks. So those positions among others will be priorities when the 10-person practice squad is assembled.
Practice squad players can practice with the team, but can't play in games. But just because Sam didn't make a Rams defensive line stocked with talent, there's no reason another team won't claim him for its 53-man roster.
"Mike's got ability," Fisher said. "Mike played well. He has the ability to play someplace. It's gotta be the right place. It's gotta be a fit.
"As someone told me years ago, the difference between a good player and an average player in this league is just snaps. It's reps.
"And he's a much better player now than he was when he got here _ as is the case with most of the rookies, the draft choices, and guys that came through here. That's just life in the National Football League."
Fisher personally breaks the bad news to every player he cuts, but he had to do so with Sam by phone because Sam was in Columbia, Mo., watching the Tigers open against South Dakota State. Fisher phoned Sam about an hour before the 3 p.m. (St. Louis time) NFL deadline to make final cuts.
Sam's reaction?
"He said, 'Yes, sir. I understand. Thanks for the opportunity,' " Fisher said.
They agreed to meet Sunday at Rams Park so that Fisher can go into more detail about why Sam was cut and what lies ahead.
On Facebook and on Twitter, Sam offered these thoughts on his Rams experience:
"I want to thank the entire Rams organization and the city of St. Louis for giving me this tremendous opportunity and allowing me to show I can play at this level. I look forward to continuing to build on the progress I made here toward a long and successful career.
"The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy _ this is a lesson I've always known. The journey continues."
Sam was drafted 249th overall, with just eight picks left in the draft on May 10. He faced long odds from the start because the Rams are stacked on the defensive line, especially at his end position.
From the outset it shaped up as a battle between Sam and Westrbooks for the fifth spot at end behind Robert Quinn, Chris Long, William Hayes, and Eugene Sims.
Sam played well, with two sacks during preseason play, including an acclaimed sack of Cleveland rookie Johnny Manziel on Aug. 23, in which Sam's sack celebration included mimicking Manziel's trademark "money" gesture.
But Westbrooks also had two sacks during the preseason and showed more burst and big-play potential. In addition, Westbrooks has the versatility to play inside at tackle, a valuable asset for a backup.
Sam was at peace with himself after unofficially registering six tackles against the Dolphins.
He said he felt he had done all he could to make his case, and was confident he would make some NFL team. He survived Friday's roster moves, when the Rams cut 17 players, but was one of four final roster cuts Saturday.
• RAMS TALK: Fans sound off about Michael Sam
• READER COMMENTS: On Sam's release
RAMS ROSTER CUTS
OFFENSE
WR Emory Blake, OG Travis Bond, WR Austin Franklin, QB Garrett Gilbert, OT Sean Hooey, TE Brad Smelley, OL Mitchell Van Dyke, WR Justin Veltung. OG Brandon Washington.
DEFENSE
DE Kourtnei Brown, S Christian Bryant, DT Matt Conrath, S Avery Cunningham, DT Deantre Harlan, LB Aaron Hill, CB Greg Reid, LB Etienne Sabino, DE Michael Sam, LB Phillip Steward, LB Lawrence Wilson, CB Darren Woodard.
Also, WR Stedman Bailey was placed on the reserve/suspended list.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_a335c816-0b13-5381-a1ac-86a5fae30f81.html
Michael Sam's bid to become the first openly gay player to make an NFL regular-season roster won't come in St. Louis.
In making tough final decisions to pare the roster to the 53-man regular season limit, Sam was released by the Rams Saturday. The University of Missouri All-American and SEC defensive player of the year now goes on the waiver wire.
The other 31 teams in the NFL have until noon Sunday to claim Sam. If that doesn't happen, he becomes practice squad eligible.
"I will tell you this, I was pulling for Mike," coach Jeff Fisher said. "I really was. I don't say that very often. But I was. Mike came in here and did everything we asked him to do."
But in the end, Fisher said it was a football decision. The Rams decided to keep nine defensive linemen on the 53-man roster, and undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks of West Texas A&M claimed that final spot.
"Ethan was very, very productive in the preseason for us," Fisher said. "He played all four spots and is a very, very talented young player that I think has a really good future."
Fisher thinks Sam could have a future in the NFL, but was noncommittal when asked if the team would try to sign him to the practice squad.
"You know, I can't go there right now," Fisher said. "Coaches don't talk about practice squads. We have to see what happens as far as the (waiver) claims and things.
"We'll know better (Sunday) afternoon. And the practice squad is heavily dependent on what you do at other positions."
The Rams' 53-man roster is light at linebacker, with just five, and includes only two quarterbacks. So those positions among others will be priorities when the 10-person practice squad is assembled.
Practice squad players can practice with the team, but can't play in games. But just because Sam didn't make a Rams defensive line stocked with talent, there's no reason another team won't claim him for its 53-man roster.
"Mike's got ability," Fisher said. "Mike played well. He has the ability to play someplace. It's gotta be the right place. It's gotta be a fit.
"As someone told me years ago, the difference between a good player and an average player in this league is just snaps. It's reps.
"And he's a much better player now than he was when he got here _ as is the case with most of the rookies, the draft choices, and guys that came through here. That's just life in the National Football League."
Fisher personally breaks the bad news to every player he cuts, but he had to do so with Sam by phone because Sam was in Columbia, Mo., watching the Tigers open against South Dakota State. Fisher phoned Sam about an hour before the 3 p.m. (St. Louis time) NFL deadline to make final cuts.
Sam's reaction?
"He said, 'Yes, sir. I understand. Thanks for the opportunity,' " Fisher said.
They agreed to meet Sunday at Rams Park so that Fisher can go into more detail about why Sam was cut and what lies ahead.
On Facebook and on Twitter, Sam offered these thoughts on his Rams experience:
"I want to thank the entire Rams organization and the city of St. Louis for giving me this tremendous opportunity and allowing me to show I can play at this level. I look forward to continuing to build on the progress I made here toward a long and successful career.
"The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy _ this is a lesson I've always known. The journey continues."
Sam was drafted 249th overall, with just eight picks left in the draft on May 10. He faced long odds from the start because the Rams are stacked on the defensive line, especially at his end position.
From the outset it shaped up as a battle between Sam and Westrbooks for the fifth spot at end behind Robert Quinn, Chris Long, William Hayes, and Eugene Sims.
Sam played well, with two sacks during preseason play, including an acclaimed sack of Cleveland rookie Johnny Manziel on Aug. 23, in which Sam's sack celebration included mimicking Manziel's trademark "money" gesture.
But Westbrooks also had two sacks during the preseason and showed more burst and big-play potential. In addition, Westbrooks has the versatility to play inside at tackle, a valuable asset for a backup.
Sam was at peace with himself after unofficially registering six tackles against the Dolphins.
He said he felt he had done all he could to make his case, and was confident he would make some NFL team. He survived Friday's roster moves, when the Rams cut 17 players, but was one of four final roster cuts Saturday.
• RAMS TALK: Fans sound off about Michael Sam
• READER COMMENTS: On Sam's release
RAMS ROSTER CUTS
OFFENSE
WR Emory Blake, OG Travis Bond, WR Austin Franklin, QB Garrett Gilbert, OT Sean Hooey, TE Brad Smelley, OL Mitchell Van Dyke, WR Justin Veltung. OG Brandon Washington.
DEFENSE
DE Kourtnei Brown, S Christian Bryant, DT Matt Conrath, S Avery Cunningham, DT Deantre Harlan, LB Aaron Hill, CB Greg Reid, LB Etienne Sabino, DE Michael Sam, LB Phillip Steward, LB Lawrence Wilson, CB Darren Woodard.
Also, WR Stedman Bailey was placed on the reserve/suspended list.
