August 15, 2015

Michael Sam Stepping Away from Football: One week after making his debut for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, Michael Sam announced that he's leaving the team. Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL, writes on Twitter, "The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health. Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time."

posted by rcade to football at 08:33 AM - 2 comments

It's too bad he couldn't handle the pressure of his historic role in sports. Montreal seemed like a good place for him to build a pro career and see if an NFL team ever developed interest. Even if it didn't, CFL success ain't chopped liver.

I am not faulting Sam for his struggles. But if this is where his football story ends, it doesn't seem like one that encourages gay high school and college players to come out. Maybe it will look better if he continues to be prominent in the sports world and lands a nice media gig or endorsements.

posted by rcade at 12:35 PM on August 15, 2015

I would agree about the ability to handle pressure. As a former sports writer (local/college, not pro), my concern is how the media handled him. They saw the word "gay" and covered Michael as a "gay football player" and not as a "football player."

posted by jjzucal at 02:27 PM on August 15, 2015

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