Michael Sam on final roster cuts: ‘I’ll let the chips fall where they fall’
By Hayden Kane
As NFL teams across the league make their final cuts to get down to a 53 man roster, no player will have more focus on him than St. Louis Rams’ hopeful Michael Sam.
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As any breathing human knows, the defensive end out of the University of Missouri is hoping to make the cut on a crowded defensive line in St. Louis; if he does make it, he will officially become the first openly gay player in the NFL.
That has a lot of people on edge, anxious to see what happens and ready to react with their own hot takes. ‘Relaxed’ is not the word you would use to describe any of the attention that has surrounded Sam this preseason, but he says that word sums up how he feels as he waits for the big news.
Sam said the following about his situation this weekend (from the St. Louis Post Dispatch):
"“You know what, I’m just gonna relax…“I’m going back to my hometown, Columbia, see (the Missouri Tigers’) opening game against South Dakota State, and I’m not even going to worry about it.“Whatever happens, happens. I’ll let the chips fall where they fall.”"
As for his performances this preseason, Sam believes he put his best foot forward and gave himself the best shot to make it:
"“Absolutely. Absolutely. I did everything I could. Now it’s out of my hands. I’m at the NFL’s mercy’s; the coaches’ mercy. So we’ll wait.”"
Sam recorded 11 tackles and three sacks this preseason, a darn impressive showing in a limited sample. The Rams and most other teams have insisted that Sam’s fate will ultimately be about his performance on the field. He has shown that he has the goods to play in the NFL; the only problem is, so did defensive end Ethan Westbrooks, the man who figures to be Sam’s main competition for a spot.
If it’s not St. Louis, then some other team might very well sign Sam to provide pass rushing depth. Whatever happens, all eyes will be on the Rams as roster cuts are released over the course of the day Saturday.