Michael Sam Details NFL Rookie Season in MMQB Exclusive

As Michael Sam continues to chase his NFL dreams, the former St. Louis Rams seventh-round selection offered an inside glimpse into his 2014 rookie season as a guest columnist at MMQB.

Despite being the 249th overall pick in the 2014 draft, the former Missouri defensive end inevitably received a great deal of attention after coming out as a gay man before the draft. Even with an incredible amount of media coverage, Sam revealed he wasn't treated any differently by his teammates in St. Louis:

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By the time I was drafted by coach Jeff Fisher and the Rams, I was ready to dive in head first and make an impact for my new team. I didn't know what to expect when I arrived at Rams training camp, but my new teammates were just as supportive as my family at Mizzou. A lot of the veterans welcomed me to the team personally and made me feel like I was just another football player—another rookie, in fact—and that I had better be prepared to be treated like one in the coming weeks.

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More specifically, the former SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year described a situation when Rams defensive end Chris Long went to bat for him publicly:

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I never doubted that my teammates had my back, but if I needed any evidence, it happened toward the end of camp in August when a television network decided to run a questionable segment about what my showering habits looked like. I immediately received support inside the Rams locker room from my teammates, but when Chris Long sent his famous tweet informing the network that "everyone but you is over it," that meant a lot. To see a veteran like Chris very publicly get my back is something I will never forget and will always be grateful for.

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The Rams ultimately cut Sam even though he registered three sacks during the preseason. The Dallas Cowboys later added Sam to their practice squad, but his stay in Texas didn't last long.

The 25-year-old lineman hasn't caught on with another team since the Cowboys cut him, but he doesn't think it has anything to do with the fact that he is gay.

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I don't believe that being gay has kept me off an NFL roster, but I will challenge anyone who says I don't have the talent to make it in the league, and I will continue to push myself every single day and do whatever it takes until I can to earn another roster spot.

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Sam's first step toward returning to the NFL will be his participation in the inaugural veteran combine, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today:

There is no question that Sam is driven to realize his dream as an NFL player, and he certainly seems to be confident he can accomplish that goal.

Things may not have gone according to plan in his rookie campaign, but Sam is far from ready to turn his back on a potential NFL career.

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