Sam enjoys love in Columbia as Rams leave him off 53-man roster
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Former SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam didn't let the day's bad news stop him from enjoying his alma mater's season opener.
The 6-foot-2, 261-pound defensive end was recognized alongside fellow Missouri alum and St. Louis Rams draft pick E.J. Gaines in the end zone shortly after the Tigers scored to go ahead of South Dakota State. Before Mizzou kicked off to resume the game, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that the St. Louis Rams had decided to cut Sam from their roster.
An official announcement came a few minutes later, right after Mizzou had scored again to take a commanding 21-7 lead with more than six minutes to play in the first quarter. Sam's future remains uncertain, as he could become a practice squad player for the Rams or even picked up by another team on waivers, as St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher and other Rams players have speculated.
Either way, it's clear Tigers fans will continue to support Sam, who became the first openly gay player to join an NFL team last May. He received a considerably louder ovation than Gaines, a first-team All-SEC cornerback who could start for the Rams next Sunday in place of the injured Trumaine Johnson.
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