Michael Sam survives St. Louis Rams’ Friday cuts
By Sam Richmond
The St.Louis Rams cut 17 players on Friday. Defensive end Michael Sam, who is the first openly gay active NFL player, was not among them, according to NFL Network’s Michael Silver.
The moves take the Rams down to 58 players, which means Sam isn’t guaranteed a roster spot just yet.
This does NOT mean that Michael Sam has definitely made the final 53-man roster. But he lives to fight another day, unlike 17 others...
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 29, 2014
St. Louis needs to cut its final five players by 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Silver, for one, believes Sam will be released by the deadline.
I do not expect Michael Sam to end up on the Rams' 53-man roster. But he could absolutely end up on some team's 53.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 29, 2014
Sam has impressed throughout preseason play, totaling 11 tackles and three sacks, which led the Rams. Still, the Rams will likely keep nine defensive lineman and there might not be room for the seventh-round pick.
Ethan Westbrooks, Sam’s top competition for the Rams last defensive lineman spot, was outstanding this preseason and outperformed the former Missouri Tiger.
“@cw2147: @MikeSilver he played good. Rams are just so damn deep” this is true. Westbrooks is legit.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 29, 2014
Sam posted 11.5 sacks and 19.0 tackles for a loss and was awarded SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 for Missouri.