First Openly Gay Football PlayerDrafted by NFL Team Michael Sam Has Been Cut By St. Louis Rams (Update: Clears Waivers)(Update: SF 49′ers Appear to Need D-Line Help)

CUT!!!

Michael Sam, the first openly gay football player drafted by an NFL team has been cut by the St. Louis Rams. According to Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, the decision to cut Sam was “a football decision” Fisher said he was “proud” to be a part of the historic moment when Sam was drafted, but he also thought the emphasis on Sam’s sexual orientation was overblown. In the end Fisher and the Rams both stated that Sam’s sexual orientation was not a factor in the decision to cut him. I would have to agree as it was also a football decision to draft him.

I am sure the gay activists will disagree.

As reported at ESPN, Michael Sam officially hit waivers Saturday at 4 p.m. ET when all NFL teams had to trim their rosters down to the league-mandated 53 players. From there, the other 31 teams will have until noon ET on Sunday to put in a claim for Sam. If he goes unclaimed, he will be free to sign with a practice squad.

But just curious, notice that ESPN did not go out of their way to mention the many other players who were cut and had their dreams of playing in the NFL crushed. So, for the St. Louis Rams the decision may not have been about Sam’s sexual orientation, but for the media, that was the only thing it was about.

NBC NEWS:

Michael Sam, the first openly gay football player drafted by an NFL team, was cut by the St. Louis Rams Saturday but one of the nation’s most prominent gay-rights organizations and the team’s coach predicted the defensive end will start the regular season with another team.

“This is not the last of Michael Sam,” Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of gay-rights advocacy group GLAAD, said in a statement. “America is ready for its first openly gay NFL player, and Sam’s strong preseason performance leaves us confident that he’ll be wearing an NFL jersey come the regular season kickoff.”

Rams head coach Jeff Fisher told reporters Saturday that the decision to cut Sam was “a football decision,” and that competition to make the team was an uphill battle because the Rams is deep in the position he plays. Sam, 24, came out in February and was the first openly gay player drafted in the history of the NFL when the Rams picked him in the seventh round.

UPDATE I: Michael Sam clears waivers, unlikely to stay with Rams.

Michael Sam is unlikely to have a future with the Ram’s as they are deep at the defensive line, which makes me wonder why any NFL team would waste a draft pick in the first place for a position that you had no need to draft for. Any how, maybe he will get a look-see in San Francisco, they appear to be in need of D-line help.

All 21 players released Saturday cleared waivers. Sam’s future was a major topic on Twitter, some of it vitriol, some reasoned.

The Rams appeared unlikely to re-sign Sam to the 10-player practice squad because the defensive line is their strongest unit and they need help elsewhere.