Dallas Cowboys sign Michael Sam to practice squad

By JON HERSKOVITZ REUTERS

10 years ago

Aug 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam (96) looks on prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. (Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

Aug 30, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; NFL rookie Michael Sam watches the game between the Missouri Tigers and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the second half at Faurot Field. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam runs during rookie minicamp at Rams Park in St. Louis in this file photo taken May 16, 2014. Sam’s dream of becoming the first openly gay player in the National Football League was put on hold on Saturday when he failed to make the St. Louis Rams’ 53-man roster for the 2014 regular season. (REUTERS/Scott Rovak/USA TODAY Sports/Files)

DALLAS — Defensive end Michael Sam, hoping to become the first openly gay athlete to play in a regular season game in the National Football League (NFL), was signed Wednesday to the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, the team said.

Coach Jason Garrett told a news conference the rookie from Missouri would be a member of the 10-man practice squad. Sam was cut last week by the St. Louis Rams, who had drafted him in the seventh and final round of the NFL draft in May.

“We have had nothing but good reports about him from our people and people in St. Louis,” Garrett said. “We just want to give him a chance to come in and see if he can help our football team.”

The 6-feet-2 (1.88 m), 260-pound (118 kg) Sam became the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL draft.

But despite his success at Missouri, talent evaluators have said Sam might struggle in the NFL – perhaps too small to play regularly on the defensive line and not athletic enough to play as a linebacker.

“He was a very good player in college. His track record speaks for itself,” Garrett said.

Each NFL team has a 10-member practice squad that helps them prepare for games. When teams face injuries, they often look to practice squad players to fill out their game-day rosters as short-term help.

Sam, a Texas native, could prove to be a useful backup for the Cowboys because of their 4-3 scheme and a desperate need for help on defense, which was the bottom-ranked unit in the NFL in the 2013 season.

There is currently only one openly gay player in North America’s four major professional sports leagues – Jason Collins, who joined the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets last season.