Former St. Louis Rams’ draftee Michael Sam — the first openly gay player in the NFL — suggested in a quick airport interview with TMZ Sports that he may have been released and ignored by the league because of his sexual orientation.
TMZ caught up with him at Los Angeles International Airport and asked if he thought other NFL teams were hesitant to pick him up because he’s openly gay — or if he can’t find a football job simply because he doesn’t have the talent.
His answer: “I think I was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year last year … so I don’t think it had to do with talent,” TMZ Sports said.
Mr. Sam, who announced he was gay in May, spent preseason with the Rams, was released and then headed to Dallas to join the practice squad for the Cowboys — but was waived in October. He’s said since that he’s trying to get back into the league.
And after TMZ reported his comments, Mr. Sam took to Twitter to clarify, writing first: “I know I have talent to play in the NFL and I look forward to getting an opportunity once again to prove that I can help a team win,” The Huffington Post reported.
He followed that message with another: “Despite what headlines you may read, I’ve never said and have never believed that I am being kept out of the league.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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