RAMS CUT GAY PLAYER

Als possible for Michael Sam

Michael Sam was probably never an ideal fit with the St. Louis Rams and it had absolutely nothing to do with his sexual orientation.

They’re just too well-stocked at defensive end, Sam’s position.

Sam showed up for his face-toface exit meeting with coach Jeff Fisher Sunday, a few hours after clearing waivers.

He arrived at Rams Park still looking right at home clad in a T-shirt, shorts and flip flops. He shook hands with two reporters and accepted well wishes but declined further comment before heading upstairs to see the coach who wasn’t afraid to add the first openly gay player to the roster. Or to cut him loose. Fisher said numerous times Saturday that releasing the SEC co-defensive player of the year was a “football decision.” Sam was outplayed in the pre-season by Ethan Westbrooks, the Rams’ top target when signing undrafted free agents.

There were no regrets. Fisher and Sam both said his sexual orientation was never a distraction, and the coach believed that would be the case if Sam landed with another team.

“There were no issues, that’s the thing,” Fisher said. “No issues in the team meeting room, on the field, anyplace.”

On Sunday, the Rams signed 10 players to their practice squad, but Sam was not among them.

Sam had three sacks, one more than Westbrook. But most of the pre-season, he was playing with the second- and third-stringers.

Westbrook was the Division II defensive player of the year when he had 19 ½ sacks for West Texas A&M, a school the Rams tapped a few years earlier for quarterback Keith Null. “He was very productive and played all four spots,” Fisher said. “He is a very, very talented young player that I think has a really good future.”

Fisher noted only one defensive lineman had more pre-season snaps than Sam, so he got a full shot. And that there were more than enough pass rushers with Robert Quinn and Chris Long starting plus productive backups William Hayes and Eugene Sims.

Tackles Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald, the latter a firstround pick this year, also are sack threats. “It’s the strength of our team,” Fisher said.

They’re not as deep in the secondary, minus cornerback Trumaine Johnson (knee) for probably the first month. They need numbers at linebacker, with just five on the roster. Backup centreguard Barrett Jones is sidelined indefinitely after back surgery.