# Top college football prospect \[Michael Sam\] comes out **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 10, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939 "2014-02-10T02:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/283 "2014-08-27T17:54:20Z")
Other than the punter and LS, were the other guys on Special Teams in college? Genuinely don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/284 "2014-08-27T18:08:07Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Other than the punter and LS, were the other guys on Special Teams in college? Genuinely don’t know. Most special teams players come from the defensive secondary (CB’s and S) and maybe some offensive players like a TE or bigger WR (outside of returners of course). Most guys who played Sam’s position, defensive end, don’t have much, if any, experience on special teams. Including Michael Sam himself, who I don’t think played on special teams at Mizzou. As Sam’s coach said: "“It’s rare that you get a defensive end that’s going to go out and contribute on all four of your core special teams, so special teams is not part of the equation for Mike.” I do think he’s been trying to be used there, but I’m not sure he has the speed or experience that most players who will make the lower end of the roster. If it comes down to Sam not making it as a DE, I don’t think they’ll hold a roster spot to hope he develops on special teams. > [@etv78](#): > > nd if/when a team needs a DE/ST player, they can pluck him off the “taxi squad” How I think it works: If they don’t put Sam on the 53 man roster, he becomes a free agent and any team can sign him either to their roster or to their own practice squad. At that point, Sam would have the choice of which practice squad he wants to go to. If no other team pries him away, and the Rams sign him to their practice squad, any team that wants to get him would have to put him on their 53 man roster. There is no moving from practice squad to practice squad without the player being out and out released beforehand. At least that’s how I think it works. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/285 "2014-08-27T18:12:42Z")
I wikied Practice Squad, and the jives with the article. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/286 "2014-08-27T18:12:46Z")
Question I have is: several posters seemed to indicate that the primary reason they thought he wouldn’t make the team is that the Rams have too much talent at his position. But there are other teams in the NFL and not all of them have tremendous depth at that position. If Sam at some point gets cut from the team, is it reasonable - based on his performance in the preseason - to assume that some team which is weak at the position might sign him to the regular squad? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/287 "2014-08-27T18:15:59Z")
Phipps-His performance this summer assures SOMEONE will sign him. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/288 "2014-08-27T18:19:53Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Question I have is: several posters seemed to indicate that the primary reason they thought he wouldn’t make the team is that the Rams have too much talent at his position. But there are other teams in the NFL and not all of them have tremendous depth at that position. If Sam at some point gets cut from the team, is it reasonable - based on his performance in the preseason - to assume that some team which is weak at the position might sign him to the regular squad? It’s completely possible. But most times teams will already have their first few players and backups at the DE position on their roster. It’s usually not until injuries begin to occur at a specific position that teams look beyond their roster. But some teams desperate for a pass rusher could grab him if he’s cut in the next round (I’m looking at you Jaguars and Falcons). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/289 "2014-08-27T19:15:42Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > How I think it works: If they don’t put Sam on the 53 man roster, he becomes a free agent and any team can sign him either to their roster or to their own practice squad. At that point, Sam would have the choice of which practice squad he wants to go to. > > If no other team pries him away, and the Rams sign him to their practice squad, any team that wants to get him would have to put him on their 53 man roster. There is no moving from practice squad to practice squad without the player being out and out released beforehand. At least that’s how I think it works. They can assign him directly to their practice squad, assuming he makes the last-but-one roster cutdown. At that point any other team can make an offer to sign him to its main roster, and the Rams get to “match” - that is, move him to their own main roster and cut someone else. If they choose note to match he goes to the other team. But yeah, you can’t sign a practice squad player to your own practice squad. You can only “promote” one from somebody else’s PS. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/290 "2014-09-03T17:01:17Z")
[The Cowboys have signed Sam to their practice squad.](http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/11458402/michael-sam-signs-dallas-cowboys) ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/291 "2014-09-03T17:16:16Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > But there are other teams in the NFL and not all of them have tremendous depth at that position. If Sam at some point gets cut from the team, is it reasonable - based on his performance in the preseason - to assume that some team which is weak at the position might sign him to the regular squad? As seen above, this just happened. The Cowboys have a really bad defense and desperately need pass rush help. I’m still not sure if Sam would be good enough to start on most teams (though he’s probably about as good as the guys lower on the depth chart), but he may end up doing so for Dallas. A complicating issue with Sam is that he’s really suited for a 4-3 defense. So, it would have had to be a team with poor defensive depth running a 4-3 with open roster/practice squad spots open. There were only 2 or 3 real possibilities for this, and it happened to work out. At the very least the Cowboys have no excuse about players creating “distractions” from football. They’re almost the poster boys for PR nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/292 "2014-09-03T17:20:22Z")
Sam’s uncoachable factors: Bad-Too small, slow Good-High motor, good effort guy ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/293 "2014-09-03T17:37:11Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Bad-Too small, slow He sped up over the summer and demonstrated it in the preseason. Dropped some weight to do so. Despite that he had some really good QB pressures. Apparently, his speed/size actually _can_ be coached up a bit. Also, I know we addressed this before and the arguments were somewhat lacking then, too: > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > 260 pounds isn’t _tiny_ for a DE at all, just on the small side. 2013/4 Pro Bowlers Robert Quinn (264) and Cameron Wake (260) are in the same ballpark. Robert Mathis is only 246 pounds. It’s tiny for a 3-4 end, but he doesn’t project as one of those anyway. > [@Chicagojeff](#): > > What’s funny is suddenly he’s too small. He’s the same size as Terrell Suggs… and actually bigger than Elvis Dumerville. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/294 "2014-09-03T17:41:43Z")
That was quicker than I expected. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/295 "2014-09-03T18:53:02Z")
I didn’t see or read much about Sam during the preseason, but from the little I’ve seen and read, I think he played decently, well enough to make the roster on a team that wasn’t as well stocked with defensive linemen as the Rams are. But he was definitely good enough to make SOMEBODY’S roster. And he was NOT much of a distraction in camp, despite what some feared. He generally worked hard and kept a low profile. What more could anyone ask? I don’t foresee stardom for Sam, but I think he can and WILL be a useful role player for the Cowboys or someone else this season. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/296 "2014-09-03T18:57:47Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > And he was NOT much of a distraction in camp, despite what some feared. He generally worked hard and kept a low profile. What more could anyone ask? The distraction thing wasn’t so much a fear about him as it was an excuse to avoid him. On a personal level he seems to have been exemplary. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/297 "2014-09-03T20:24:23Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > But yeah, you can’t sign a practice squad player to your own practice squad. You can only “promote” one from somebody else’s PS. Yes you have to sign them for a minimum of 4 games. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/298 "2014-09-03T22:03:18Z")
Call me cynical, but what I’m seeing is Jerry Jones looking at the number of Sam jerseys that the Rams sold. Apparently the Cowboys negotiated an exception that applies only to themselves, that merch sales are not divided amongst the entire league the way it is for every other team. No, each Sam jersey sold is money in Dallas’s pocket. I hope I’m wrong, and Sam moves up to the real squad (assuming, of course, that he can perform at that level). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/299 "2014-09-03T22:07:27Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > Call me cynical, but what I’m seeing is Jerry Jones looking at the number of Sam jerseys that the Rams sold. Sounds fine to me. If some teams avoided him because he’s a “distraction,” I’m good with someone hiring him because they want to sell jerseys. It does sound like Dallas is thin at that position, so he’ll have a shot at a job regardless. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/300 "2014-09-03T22:08:53Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > Call me cynical, but what I’m seeing is Jerry Jones looking at the number of Sam jerseys that the Rams sold. Apparently the Cowboys negotiated an exception that applies only to themselves, that merch sales are not divided amongst the entire league the way it is for every other team. No, each Sam jersey sold is money in Dallas’s pocket. > > I hope I’m wrong, and Sam moves up to the real squad (assuming, of course, that he can perform at that level). This is an issue that was discussed in an article I read. Sam has been assigned a number while he is on the practice squad, but if he moves up to the real squad, he will be assigned a different number. This makes it tricky to sell his jersey, since he’ll essentially have a practice jersey until he (potentially) makes the squad. And apparently they’ve already decided to [sell his jersey](http://fansided.com/2014/09/03/dallas-cowboys-will-sell-michael-sam-jerseys/#!bPiM0l), even though they don’t normally sell jersey’s of practice squad players. Good call, **JSexton**. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/301 "2015-05-22T21:19:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’d say there is an 80% chance Sam will be starting for a CFL team within five years. He will be drafted by the NFL, but he’s troublesome to find a place for. His size is disadvantageous for the NFL, but in the smaller and more mobile CFL he could be an All-Star and have a nice little career beating the holy bejeezus out of quarterbacks in Montreal. And **RickJay** wins the prize for prognostication! [MICHAEL SAM TO SUIT UP FOR THE MONTREAL ALOUETTES IN 2015](http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/michael-sam-to-suit-up-for-the-montreal-alouettes-in-2015) > [@](#): > > Montreal - The Montreal Alouettes announced on Friday that the club has signed international defensive end Michael Sam to a two-year deal. Sam (6’2’’, 260 lbs.) joins the Alouettes after spending the 2014 season in the National Football League with the St. Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. > > The 25-year-old athlete developed his playing abilities with the University of Missouri Tigers in the NCAA. In four seasons with the Tigers, Sam registered an impressive 123 total tackles of which 36 were for losses and 21 total sacks. He also notched two interceptions. > > “With the signing of Michael Sam, we have become a better organization today,” said Alouettes’ general manager, Jim Popp. “Not only have we added an outstanding football player, we have added even a better person that brings dignity, character, and heart to our team.” CBS Sports article: [Why one of CFL’s smartest football minds pushed to sign Michael Sam](http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25193182/why-one-of-cfls-smartest-football-minds-pushed-to-sign-michael-sam) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939/302 "2015-05-22T21:49:35Z")
Holy cow. Called the team and everything. Bravo, sir. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-college-football-prospect-michael-sam-comes-out/680939.md?page=16)