Tag: Montreal Alouettes

Posted on

Michael Sam Finally Makes History As First Openly Gay Football Player In A Regular Season Game

Michael Sam

Finally making history, Michael Sam became the first openly gay professional football player to take to the field in a regular season game last night as he made his debut with the Montreal Alouettes against the Ottawa Redblacks.

Entering the game late in the first quarter, Sam played throughout the rest of the game. The Alouettes lost the game 26-23.

“I was focusing on my assignments, actually,” Sam said when asked if he was thinking of the significance of the moment prior to kickoff.

“I’m not going to lie, there were some big jitters out there and I was nervous when I first got on the field. I didn’t get any opportunities to make many plays. I had some good pass rushes I thought.

Sam is currently signed to a two year contract with Montreal.

Shortly after Sam’s debut, openly gay former NBA player Jason Collins sent out the following tweet in support:

Posted on

Michael Sam Returns To Montreal Alouettes

Michael Sam has returned to the Montreal Alouettes two weeks after leaving the team for what he said were “personal reasons.” Sam left Montreal June 12, the day before the Alouettes’ first Canadian Football League preseason game, and allegedly boarded a plane headed for Dallas. At the time, speculation was rampant about whether Sam was leaving the team for good or if he would return.

From the Montreal Gazette:

As for Sam, he was in Montreal on Wednesday with injured linebacker Kyries Hebert and has a locker at Olympic Stadium. He’s expected at team meetings this Sunday and at practice the following day.

Earlier this week Alouettes general manager Jim Popp offered The Guardian his perspective on why Sam left the team:

“I think he needed a break,” Popp said. “That’s my personal belief. I think it was just overwhelming to some degree, and he needs to clear his mind, clear his head. Do I think he wants to play? Do I think he wants to be on the field? Do I think he wants to be Michael Sam the football player? I, 100%, believe that. Yes.”

(from Outsports)

Posted on

Silence From Michael Sam As Montreal Alouettes Move Him To Suspended List

Still no official word as to why out footballer Michael Sam left training camp a day he was scheduled to make his first appearance with the Montreal Alouettes in an exhibition game on Saturday.

While Sam hasn’t addressed the departure in any way, the Alouettes General Manager Jim Popp has made a few statements to the press.

“There’s nothing to tell you. He wanted to go home, and that’s what he did. I don’t know why. When a guy wants to go home, they go home. He had some personal things to take care of.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he returns. I’m surprised he left. I was very surprised. If he doesn’t come back, I would think football’s over for him. He’s the one that has to face that. But I don’t think he doesn’t want to play football. That’s why he came here.”

“It’s a huge story because everybody keeps hounding and hounding and hounding. Michael Sam just wants to be a football player,” Popp said. “I would think anybody that’s 25 years old that has been going through it for a year and a half, it would have to affect him. I would think so. That’s one reason he didn’t want to do interviews and just concentrate on football.”

An anonymous source with the team told the Gazette that Sam may have had an negative reaction to a comment made by another player.

“All I know is I heard somebody made a comment about him, about how he wasn’t very good and wasn’t having a very good camp. He took it personally and was pouting in his room,” the source said. “It’s very strange. I have no idea what’s going on. He might have a personal issue.”