His decision to walk away ends a tumultuous season with the Alouettes.
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Sam introduced by way of Twitter Friday night that he was stepping away from the sport, as a troublesome 12 months has led him to be involved for his mental health, he stated.
Sam concluded by expressing his gratitude to all of his followers for their “understanding and support”. He left the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes on Friday and said he is taking time away from the game.
Sam’s supporters have said that his sexuality is irrelevant to his performance and have dismissed suggestions that an openly gay player would be a distraction for a professional football team. The 6-foot-2, 261-pound Sam was drafted by the NFL’s St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 draft.
Sam also missed part of Montreal’s training camp to attend personal matters but returned June 29. He did not play in Montreal’s game Thursday against Edmonton, citing a sore back. Popp wondered if Sam’s good experience at Missouri made him believe coming out in the NFL wouldn’t be a big deal and was surprised when it was. He later joined the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys, but was cut weeks later.
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Though Michael’s departure this time most likely will make it hard for the struggling Sam to ever return to the field, his announcement came with the expression of a hope to play again someday.
