CANADA: Michael Sam Signs Two Year Deal With Montreal's CFL Franchise

Via The Score:

The CFL's Montreal Alouettes have signed former NFL defensive end Michael Sam to a two-year contract. Sam, who made headlines as the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, never played a regular-season snap in the league. Sam was released by the St. Louis Rams at final cuts prior to the 2014 season and later spent time on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. The 25-year-old was out of football last season. He competed at the NFL's inaugural veteran combine this spring but managed only a 4.99-second 40-yard dash.

The Canadian Football League was founded in 1958 and has nine teams. Its championship Grey Cup game is Canada's most-watched sporting event. (Tipped by JMG reader Dave)

Michael Sam Eliminated On DWTS

Via the New York Daily News:

He’s been cut from the National Football League, and now he’s been ousted from "Dancing with the Stars." Viewers and judges on ABC’s celebrity dance competition Monday made the NFL’s first openly gay draft pick the third contestant kicked off this season. Sam, 25, dedicated a rumba dance to his estranged father, but the performance set to “I’m Not My Father’s Son” garnered a score of only 30 out of 40 from the judges, People magazine reported. The gracious Sam,who got engaged to boyfriend Vito Cammisano in January, thanked dance partner Peta Murgatroyd and described the defeat as “bittersweet” in an interview with Access Hollywood. “I thought my last dance was my best dance,”Sam told the TV show. “And I would like to leave on my best dance instead of my horrible dance.”

Here is his final dance.

Michael Sam Will Dance With The Stars

Details.

Coca-Cola Takes On Internet Haters With Super Bowl Ad Starring Michael Sam

Via AdWeek:

If you've spent more than three seconds on the Internet, you know it can be a pretty horrible place, swarming with cyberbullies and trolls who've turned comment sections into rotting hate-fests and people's own personal social pages into sources of despair. Coca-Cola hopes to change all that—or at least, steer things in a different direction—with its 2015 Super Bowl campaign. Four longer online videos will roll out this week starring teens and celebs who've experienced online negativity (racecar driver Danica Patrick and football player Michael Sam will star in two of these) or who are devoted to spreading happiness online (Kid President stars in the one of these.)

Other clips are at the link.

(Tipped by JMG reader Lynda)

Michael Sam Proposed....At The Vatican

TMZ is calling it "an act of defiance."

REPORT: Michael Sam Is Engaged

Unconfirmed by Sam, but here's what TMZ is saying:

Finally, some good news for Michael Sam -- HE'S ENGAGED!!! It all went down in Europe where the 25-year-old football player has been vacationing with his college sweetheart Vito Cammisano ... the man Sam famously kissed when he was drafted into the NFL last year. Unclear who asked who ... but one of Vito's friends (who was on the University of Missouri swim team with Vito) is already congratulating the couple about it on Twitter ... and Sam "liked" her post.

Porno Pete Pens Poem For Michael Sam

I missed it at the time, but last week Porno Pete LaBarbera penned a 42-verse Dr. Seuss-inspired poem about Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend on national television. Here's how it starts:

I saw the kiss by Michael Sam..
It made me mad–he kissed a man!

That’s something I don’t want to see
It’s wrong, unnatural, and it’s not just me.

Many now say, “Homosexuality is OK.”
But God says there’s a better way.

He made men for women, and women for men.
So why are “gays” so prideful then?

Please, no public same-sex kisses, Michael Sam.
We don’t want to see this man-on-man!

Not in a boat, not in a car
This public perversion goes too far!

Not in the store or on a bus
This same-sex stuff, it brings disgust.

Not at the movies or on TV
It’s wrong, unnatural, can’t you see?!

I don’t want my kids to think it’s right
So please, please, keep it out of sight!

If you can bear it, Right Wing Watch has the rest.

HomoQuotable - Michael Sam

"If I had it my way, I never would have done it [come out] the way I did, never would have told it the way I did. I would have done the same thing I did at Mizzou. Which was to tell my team and my coaches and leave it at that. But since I did tell my team, word got out.  People think the word didn't get out. It did. Or it did and it didn't. They kept it confined within our family. But the recruiters knew, and reporters knew, and they talked to each other, and it got out. If I didn't have the year I did, nobody would have cared. But I did have that year. And a lot of people knew. Someone was gonna ask me, 'I heard you told your team a secret.…' Well, I was comfortable with who I was, and I wouldn't have denied it. And then I wouldn't have been able to control the story. But I have no regrets. Some people can argue that I had the potential to go higher in the draft. But I think everything happens for a reason. It looks good to see me in the position I'm in now, because I can show the world how good I am and rise up the ranks. I'm at the bottom now. I can rise up, show I'm a football player. Not anything else. Just a football player." - Michael Sam, speaking to GQ Magazine.

Michael Sam Is A GQ Man Of The Year

Via the Washington Post:

This fall, GQ magazine found room for an athlete on its annual list of celebrities who have left a mark on pop culture. This isn’t any athlete, though. It’s Michael Sam, the first openly gay player taken in the NFL draft last spring. Sam joins “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt, comedian Dave Chappelle, actors Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley of “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Foxcatcher” star Steve Carell. The magazine revealed all six covers Monday, with a story on each honoree being rolled out daily this week. Sam was drafted by St. Louis Rams and he quickly crossed from a sports story into a cultural one when he kissed his partner in celebration.

Sam was cut by the Dallas Cowboys last month and remains unsigned.

Dallas Cowboys Cut Michael Sam

Harlem Hate Pastor: New York State Will Recognize Marriages To Children

Jack Burkman: I Canceled My Michael Sam Protest Due To Death Threats

"I and others in my organization received death threats over the phone Saturday and early Sunday. We took them very seriously and I did not want to risk anyone’s life to send a message. Whether gay radical activists or others made these threats is not clear yet. What is clear is that there are those who oppose us so vehemently that they will stop at nothing–and even resort to violence–to attack Christian values. Whoever did this are no different than terrorists." - Nutcase alleged GOP lobbyist Jack Burkman, in a press release distributed by the paid service PR News Channel. Last week Burkman declared that his group American Decency, which he claims has 3.6M members, would protest against Michael Sam outside the Dallas Cowboys game. The Dallas CBS affiliate deleted their report on that planned protest after the American Decency Association issued a statement disavowing any association with Burkman. (Tipped by JMG reader Tom)

Hate Group American Decency: We're Not The Hate Group Protesting Michael Sam

This morning the Dallas CBS affiliate reported that a group called American Decency will be protesting against Michael Sam at this weekend's Cowboys game. Another group calling themselves American Decency, about whom I've written in the past, wants you to know while they definitely hate homosexuals, they aren't behind the alleged protest in Dallas.

We started the day with hate emails and posts on our Facebook alleging that we are behind a protest in Dallas against the Dallas Cowboys in their hiring of homosexual and homosexual activist Michael James. A few examples suffice: Jesus weeps for bigots like these idiots. There is not an ounce of human decency to be found in them. You make Christians look bad, and I am a Christian!!!! Shame on you! And, a few others that we deleted due to their vitriolic content.

In saying, this, we are not the group in Texas using the name “American Decency” headed by Jack Burkman that is being targeted as planning a protest against football player Michael Sam in Dallas this Sunday. However, let me make it clear: We at American Decency Association do support Biblical, traditional marriage. Here is our position. When Michael Sam made a big spectacle of his homosexuality on draft night it was a complete turn off! You’ll remember the contrived kiss with his “boy friend.”

On what presumably was the biggest night of his life in his development as a football player (meeting many personal goals), what was most important to draftee Michael Sam before a watching world? It was to make a statement about his sexuality not about celebrating the high athletic accomplishment of his being drafted into the National Football League (NFL). In saying all of this, I make this point: We are not the ones behind the protest, but we also do not condone the lifestyle of Michael Sam.

It appears now that anti-gay crackpot Jack Burkman lied to the Dallas CBS station, who has deleted the report that I excerpted this morning.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: American Decency calls for all Americans to cut up their Target cards. American Decency says the DOMA ruling was as bad as the attack on Pearl Harbor.

DALLAS: Christian Group To Protest Against Michael Sam At Cowboys GameUPDATE: This Story Is A Likely Hoax

Crackpot Christian activist and alleged GOP lobbyist Jack Burkman says his group will protest against Michael Sam at Sunday's Dallas Cowboys game.

The group American Decency says thousands of right-wing Christians will demonstrate at AT&T Stadium Sunday to protest the Dallas Cowboys signing Michael Sam to its practice squad. Sam is the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL. Jack Burkman heads the group which claims to have 3.62 million members in 41 states. Burkman says, “We cannot just stand idly by as Christian values and morals are trampled. We will do whatever we can to preserve family values in this country.” Rafael McDonnell of the Resource Center, which provides services to the LGBT community, says Sam could help the Cowboys win on and off the field. “He is a talented football player, and if he can help us win, it’s a bonus that he happens to be part of the LGBT community. It shines a light about how difficult it is to be open and out at your job.”

Burkman declared in May that his group would boycott any team that signed Sam. (Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

UPDATE: This story is a likely hoax.

Tweet Of The Day - Dallas Cowboys

And it's done.

“I’m excited to be a Cowboy, it’s great to be heading home,” Sam said. “It has all happened so quickly, but it’s exciting, I just wanna get back to playing football you know.” Though he grew up in Texas, Sam said “I never followed the Cowboys growing up because I never had a team. I am a fan of defenses and Dallas need some help, that’s why I’m going.” Sam was cut by the St. Louis Rams this past weekend after drafting him in the seventh round in May. The Cowboys were initially not interested in him, but have changed their minds for numerous reasons. “I’m excited to be to be joining Dallas, I just want to play football, it’s great to be heading back to my home state. … It’s been a roller coaster this past week but I’m happy where I’m at now. … I’m just looking forward to being a Cowboy, my focus is on making the team.”

RELATED: The NFL has slashed the price of Michael Sam's St. Louis Rams jerseys by 50%. Dallas jerseys are not yet available.

Dallas Cowboys To Sign Michael Sam

NBC Sports reports that the Dallas Cowboys are going to sign Michael Sam to their practice squad.

The Cowboys plan to bring in Sam for a physical and sign him to the practice squad if he passes, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the Cowboys spent time today calling players to gauge their reaction to signing Sam. Apparently the reaction was what it should have been: If he can help the team, he should be signed. The Cowboys think having Sam on the practice squad could help. There’s been much talk since the Rams cut Sam that teams are avoiding him because they don’t want the attention of having the NFL’s first openly gay player on their roster. But in the case of the Cowboys — where owner Jerry Jones thinks there’s no such thing as bad publicity — if anything Sam’s status as the NFL’s highest-profile practice-squad player may be a bonus.

Michael Sam Goes Unclaimed

Via Yahoo Sports:

The St. Louis Rams named the 10 players they signed to their practice squad. Michael Sam was not one of them. The team made Sam one of its final cuts on Saturday and met with him the following day, but it apparently doesn't have interest at this time in signing Sam. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said Sam's release Saturday was for "football reasons" and had cited the team's injuries on the offensive line and secondary as reasons why the team was concerned about its depth at other spots and couldn't keep more than 10 defensive linemen on the roster. But not on the practice squad either? Sam was unclaimed by the other 31 NFL teams and remains a free agent, with no teams offering a practice squad spot — despite those rosters increasing this season from eight to 10 players per team — with nearly every slot around the league believed to be filled.

St. Louis Rams Cut Michael Sam

The St. Louis Rams released Michael Sam today in the final cut before the official season begins. ESPN reports:

Sam's efforts to become the first openly gay player in NFL history came up just short in a competition against undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks. Westbrooks is one of nine defensive linemen to land a roster spot. Sam officially hit waivers Saturday at 4 p.m. ET when all NFL teams had to trim their rosters down to the league-mandated 53 players. From there, the other 31 teams will have until noon ET on Sunday to put in a claim for Sam. If he goes unclaimed, he will be free to sign with a practice squad. According to one league source, the Rams would like to bring Sam back to their 10-man practice squad. "There will be no challenge, no challenges whatsoever," for whatever team picks up Sam, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said at a news conference. "There's no challenge with respect to Mike Sam," Fisher said. "He's not about drawing attention to himself. He kept his head down and worked and you can't ask anything more out of any player for that matter."

More from the Washington Post:

Now that Michael Sam has been released by the St. Louis Rams, failing to make their season-opening 53-man roster, the question becomes: What’s next for him? It appears that, following a productive preseason, he will have a home in the NFL, although it’s not immediately clear where that will be or what roster status he will have. The most likely outcome, according to people throughout the league, is that Sam ends up right back where he started and is re-signed by the Rams to their 10-member practice squad, making him eligible to practice with the team — and continue to try to develop into an NFL-ready player — but not play in games. That’s if he’s not signed by another team to its roster, which those in and around the league also consider possible.

The celebrating is already underway at Breitbart and Free Republic.

I want to thank the entire Rams organization and the city of St. Louis for giving me this tremendous opportunity and allowing me to (1/2)
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 30, 2014

show I can play at this level. I look forward to continuing to build on the progress I made here toward a long and successful career (2/2)
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 30, 2014

The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy, this is a lesson I've always known. The journey continues.
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 30, 2014

Headline Of The Day

Details.

Michael Sam Survives First Cut

Michael Sam is still a Ram. Via ESPN:

Michael Sam remains on the St. Louis Rams' roster after the team made the necessary moves to get to the league maximum of 75 players. To reach that number, the Rams made four moves Tuesday afternoon, including placing quarterback Sam Bradford and center Demetrius Rhaney on injured reserve. St. Louis also released safety Matt Daniels and defensive end Sammy Brown. That Sam made it through the first round of cuts is of little surprise after he posted two sacks against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday night. Through three preseason games, Sam -- the first openly gay active player in NFL history -- has five tackles and three sacks. Rams coaches' film review also credits the rookie defensive end with two quarterback pressures and a quarterback hit.

ESPN drew widespread criticism yesterday after it reported on Sam's showering habits after games and practices. Via Yahoo Sports:

Before Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player, ever set foot on an NFL football field, doubters had claimed that he would be a distraction to his team and shunned by his teammates. However, in the first media flare-up regarding Sam's orientation, he has received the definitive support of one of the strongest voices in his locker room. The precipitating incident was an ESPN report on how Sam, no sure thing to make the Rams' roster, was adjusting to life with his new teammates. And after some initial cliches, the report took a sharp turn, focusing for almost a full minute on Sam's showering habits. The report drew immediate criticism on social media, both for its selectiveness (how many other rookies' shower habits are a story?) and its gaze too deep into the locker room. But there's a larger issue here. For years, people who claim to know NFL culture have said that the locker room wouldn't accept a gay man. But within hours after the report aired, Rams teammate Chris Long shattered that myth with one eight-word tweet.

Here's the criticized shower report.