Michael Sam being out of a job would not have looked good for the NFL, so according to Peter King the NFL contacted several teams and asked them if they would be interested in giving Sam a spot on their practice squad.
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The idea that the NFL would advocate for Sam to get a spot, and not take similar actions on behalf of a non-culturally-significant player, struck some as ethically dubious if not downright sleazy.
In the end, the Dallas Cowboys stepped up and gave Sam a practice squad shot. But Jerry Jones says this decision was entirely about the Cowboys and did not come about because the NFL pressured him.
Jones told radio station KRLD via The Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
"“No, we were not [contacted]. That would not be something that I have ever done is visit with the league other than reporting a transaction. I am our voting representative with the team, and technically nobody goes anywhere unless I OK it with the league office. That’s the only way I’ve ever talked to the league about anything to do with personnel is letting them know I’ve approved a trade or the waiver.”"
Sam battled fellow defensive end Ethan Westbrooks for a spot on the Rams, ultimately losing out to the UDFA. It looked like Sam might not get a second chance until the Cowboys decided to give him a shot on the practice squad.
It certainly helps the NFL image-wise to have Sam employed, but the idea that they would actually put pressure on teams to give Sam a chance is really questionable.
Jerry Jones assures us he made his decision for the good of the Cowboys and not because the league leaned on him, and I think most people will tend to buy his explanation, given his stubborn non-conformist tendencies.
Still, now we know the league was willing to give Sam preferential treatment for their own PR purposes. That will only give more ammo to those who think Sam doesn’t deserve a place in the NFL and is only being kept around to help the league sell itself to the gay community.