Alouettes sign DE Sam

[T-Bone]

Didier Ormejuste of RDS reported the news on Twitter. It's not yet known the reason for Sam's departure.
The defensive end was expected to miss the Alouettes' preseason opener against the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday night due to illness.
Alouettes head coach Tom Higgins hadn't ruled Sam out for Saturday's contest Friday, but added the team would not risk playing him sick.
"I'm not sure what his status is health wise," Higgins said Friday. "We wouldn't want to put him out there if he's under the weather, but we'll wait and see"

http://www.tsn.ca/report-sam-leaves-...-camp-1.306592

[argonaut11xx]

They talked about Sam leaving during halftime of last nights game.

Basically, Sam just isnt good enough to play in the CFL

[ArgoRavi]

They talked about Sam leaving during halftime of last nights game.

Basically, Sam just isnt good enough to play in the CFL

Until we know why he left, I don't think anyone can make any conclusions on that yet. Jim Popp is still hopeful that Sam will be back soon.

[argonaut11xx]

Until we know why he left, I don't think anyone can make any conclusions on that yet. Jim Popp is still hopeful that Sam will be back soon.

I'll take what Milt Stegall, Chris Shultz, and the reporter from AL's camp had to say at face value....summed up, Mr Sam was in over his head.

[Argo57]

I'll take what Milt Stegall, Chris Shultz, and the reporter from AL's camp had to say at face value....summed up, Mr Sam was in over his head.

As I thought when he was signed, all the hype means SFA if the guy hasn't got the talent to play in the league, add Sam to the list of big U.S. college players who got a rude awakening regarding the talent level in our little Podunk Canadian league!

[argonaut11xx]

As I thought when he was signed, all the hype means SFA if the guy hasn't got the talent to play in the league, add Sam to the list of big U.S. college players who got a rude awakening regarding the talent level in our little Podunk Canadian league!

Agreed...his celebrity was far beyond his talent level. A 5 second forty???...i'd be close to that at nearly 50 yrs old

[argolio]

A 5 second forty???...i'd be close to that at nearly 50 yrs old

Not a chance you would.

[Argo]

It's very premature to label Sam a no-talent. He's acquitted himself well at each level he was allowed to play at. This abrupt exit would seem to result from the mixture of, at least, youth and culture shock.
If Sam remains interested in playing football, he really should return, strive to play well, and hope to parlay success into a legitimate NFL opportunity.

[T-Bone]

Michael Sam 'wanted to go home, and that's what he did,' Alouettes GM says

[AngeloV]

It's very premature to label Sam a no-talent. He's acquitted himself well at each level he was allowed to play at. This abrupt exit would seem to result from the mixture of, at least, youth and culture shock.
If Sam remains interested in playing football, he really should return, strive to play well, and hope to parlay success into a legitimate NFL opportunity.

I agree. The way I see it, some on here just love it for a high profile player to not make it in the CFL to somehow justify the talent level the league has. Then their are others that just don't like him for his sexual orientation...whether they want to admit it or not.

Not a chance you would.

I have to agree with you. 5 seconds in the 40 is extremely fast for a non pro athlete of any age.

[Argo57]

I agree. The way I see it, some on here just love it for a high profile player to not make it in the CFL to somehow justify the talent level the league has. Then their are others that just don't like him for his sexual orientation...whether they want to admit it or not.





I have to agree with you. 5 seconds in the 40 is extremely fast for a non pro athlete of any age.

If I thought my hammys wouldn't grenade I could run a 5 minute 40

**Popp certainly changed his tune regarding Sam's departure, he is on thin ice.

[AngeloV]

If I thought my hammys wouldn't grenade I could run a 5 minute 40

.

As a QB, my fastest 40 time in junior was 5.7. Embarrassingly slow for a skill position player.

[argolio]

Dave Naylor said he was told Sam would have made the team, so if that's true it wasn't a football issue.

It's possible, because of his celebrity status, an opportunity to make a lot more money just presented itself.

[Will]

A possible explanation

Sounds like it might not have been necessary a homophobic comment rather a general comment about his skill set.

[Neely2005]

Apparently Sam quit because he knew that he wouldn't make the team:

http://thebiglead.com/2015/06/16/mic...alouettes-cfl/

[Will]

Yet, Naylor stated that Sam was on track to make the team.

[T-Bone]

I'm sympathetic to Sam's position in the sense that there has been a lot of media pressure on him but I really wish he would make a statement regarding his departure or if he will be returning because it puts the Alouettes and the CFL in a bit of a difficult situation. Obviously they are going to respect his privacy and not say anymore than they already have but it leaves the media and fans with all this speculation.

EDIT: I guess Popp did have a bit more to say: Montreal Alouettes, CFL better with Michael Sam, GM says

[1argoholic]

I think the guys got way to much going on in his head at this time. Hard to attempt to play with added pressure. He's had to adjust to being openly gay and especially in the spot light. That can't be easy. Montreal gave him a shot and that's that.

[argonaut11xx]

I think the guys got way to much going on in his head at this time.

If his head wasnt right, and his heart wasnt "in it", then we understand what happened.

Too bad, because if he was FULLY committed to football, he would have shown better at the veteran combine this year, and at the Alouettes training camp

[Wobbler]

I'm sympathetic to Sam's position in the sense that there has been a lot of media pressure on him but I really wish he would make a statement regarding his departure or if he will be returning because it puts the Alouettes and the CFL in a bit of a difficult situation. Obviously they are going to respect his privacy and not say anymore than they already have but it leaves the media and fans with all this speculation.

Agreed. For someone in a unique position, he doesn't seem to be managing his career very well and likely isn't getting good advice.