NFL Rumors: Michael Sam won’t make St. Louis Rams’ final roster
By Sam Richmond
Michael Sam was awfully impressive throughout his first NFL preseason. The former Missouri defensive end racked up 11.0 tackles and three sacks, a team-best for the St.Louis Rams.
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But NFL Network’s Michael Silver still expects Sam to be left off the Ram’s final roster.
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
If Sam doesn’t make the team, it’s not because he didn’t do enough. It’s a numbers game and the Rams likely want to keep nine defensive lineman. Sam’s top competition for a roster spot, Ethan Westbrooks, was one of the standout performers this preseason.
“@cw2147: @MikeSilver he played good. Rams are just so damn deep” this is true. Westbrooks is legit.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 29, 2014
Still, as Silver notes, there’s definitely a chance another team scoops up the defensive end. Sam said on Friday that he expects to be on somebody’s roster when the 2014 NFL season kicks off.
Rams DE Michael Sam: "I'm very confident I'll be playing on a NFL roster this fall. I know I can play in this league."
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) August 29, 2014
Sam is the first openly active NFL player to come out as gay. He racked up 11.5 sacks and 19.0 tackles for a loss en route to winning SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 for the Tigers.