Michael Sam Set To Join The Dallas Cowboys

[big_dog]

Source: Out Sports.com

Michael Sam will visit the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday. If his physical goes well, he will be signed to the practice squad. Michael Sam is about to become a Dallas Cowboy. Outsports has confirmed the Cowboys are bringing Sam to Dallas for a physical and have the intention of signing him to their practice squad. That would make him the first openly gay member of a regular-season team.

Adam Schefter and Ian Rapaport have also confirmed the news:
The Cowboys, by the way, were Sam's favorite team while he was growing up in Texas.
The Cowboys happen to play the St. Louis Rams in week 3.

Last year the Cowboys had the third-worst pass defense and the worst overall defense in the NFL, allowing over 415 yards per game. They recorded only 34 sacks on the season, and quarterbacks racked up a 96.0 average passer rating against them. These are not good numbers. Sam can have an immediate impact on the team in the coming weeks. These spots are all up for grabs for a guy like Sam, meaning there are far more opportunities to make the active roster with the Cowboys than existed with the D'line-heavy St Louis Rams.

The Cowboys were always a potential great fit for Sam on the field. They currently have five defensive ends on the active roster, the fifth of which is Lavar Edwards whom they acquired in a trade from Tennessee this weekend. They also have DE Kenneth Boatright on the practice squad. Edwards graded out at -1.7 by Pro Football Focus in the preseason; Sam graded at +0.6. Tyrone Crawford, a backup defensive end on the squad, spent last season on injured reserve.


Read more: http://www.outsports.com/2014/9/2/6097331/michael-sam

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authors note in article: Mea culpa here - I said pretty loudly early this year that I didn't think the Cowboys were a great fit for Sam for other reasons, namely leadership. I've learned a lot about the NFL in the last six months. Sam and his Rams teammates taught me a lot about where NFL locker rooms really are today.

While I thought six months ago that Sam could be just a circus act in Dallas, I haven't thought that for months as I learned more about how teams - including the Cowboys - really operate. I've spent much of the last 48 hours very publicly wondering why the Cowboys have not brought him in. I've feared that it was trepidation about how fans in Texas would react to their beloved Cowboys signing a gay player.

Today they put those fears to rest and made a great football decision. It's the perfect football fit for Sam, and I think Dallas is a powerful landing spot for him. On Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys could become a model for inclusion

Culturally, this signing would be an earthquake. Texas is held up by the gay community as this country's great bastion of homophobia. For the revered Cowboys to bring him in and sign him would send a very clear message that yes, at the end of the day, the NFL is a true meritocracy. If the Cowboys make the move, this is the second team in the Bible Belt to sign Sam.

[Ishoutandscream2]

1. Dallas' defense is horrific.

Any help is needed. As a fan, I hope he works out well for the Cowboys.

And now, let all the haters of everything Dallas come out of the woodwork here at DU.

On edit - Dallas is actually very gay friendly.

[7962]

3. I wont disappoint you!

[big_dog]

5. the stakes just got raised, he's probably going to get substantial playing time now....

i suspect the fans will rally around him

[former9thward]

15. He is on the practice team, not the active team.

[jmowreader]

44. Until the Cowboys remember just how horrid their defense is, and then he won't be

[kentauros]

43. No hatred, just the typical Houston/Dallas rivalry!

Dallas County has Lupe Valdez, a Hispanic and lesbian county sheriff. Houston has an openly lesbian mayor (Annise Parker), now on her third term. Both of our cities are very gay-friendly (At one time, Houston was said to have the second-largest homosexual population in the nation.)

Texas is not the stereotypical "red" state the rest of DU perpetuates.

[7962]

2. Hate to hear that. Jerry Jones is a lying scumbag. I could never root for the Cowboys.

Wish he'd hook on with any other team.

[Ishoutandscream2]

6. Any real Cowboys' fan would agree with you about Jones

As an obsessed hater, you should pray that Ol Rubberface lives to be 100.

[santroy79]

62. Im a die hard cowboys fan since I was a little kid

I wouldnt want a different owner then Jerry. He wants to win.He doesnt always make the right choices but his heart is in the right place.

Now we just need to fire Garrett and bring in a real head coach that knows what he is doing.

[Unknown Beatle]

39. Why is Jones

a lying scumbag? What did he say to make you believe that?

[7962]

40. Its not just what he said, but what he did.

In 2007, Jones asked Falcons coach Arthur Blank for permission to talk to Coach Bobby Petrino about taking over as head coach for Arkansas (Jones is an Ark grad and huge booster). It was in the last part of the '07 NFL season. Blank said no, please wait till after the season ended. Jones said he would let Ark. know and that he would wait. 2 days later, Petrino left the Falcons for Ark. He left without even telling his players in person, with the rest of the season still to be played. The Falcons floundered with an asst coach taking over for the rest of the season.
Jones lied to a fellow NFL owner, Blank. I'm sure he's done worse than that, but thats the one I'm referring to. Of course, karma bit Jones & his Razorbacks right in the ass when they had to fire Petrino after HIS scandal became public.

[underpants]

51. Petrino left post it notes if I recall

I was in Vegas the weekend of the next game. Do the Falcons fold or join together? I put $20 or something on them being pros and sticking together. They folded.

[7962]

58. Yes, you're right. Notes stuck to their lockers. And Louisville hired him AGAIN.

The Falcons didnt stand a chance the rest of that year. That was the year they lost Vick to jail. So they had an average backup for starter all season.
Petrino belongs in a deeper septic tank than Jones.

[santroy79]

63. no proof he talked to him

[KamaAina]

4. The Cowboys happen to play the San Francisco 49ers in week 1.

[JRLeft]

9. Practice squad is not the active roster. The Cowboys would have to release a player in order for him

to be placed on the roster. Hopefully he plays at a high enough level in practice that he will force his way on the active roster.

[awoke_in_2003]

21. As pathetic as the Cowboys defense is...

it won't be long until he is no longer practice squad.

[KinMd]

37. Or have a player go on the injured list

[yallerdawg]

7. Good move by the Cowboys.

Hope it benefits them and SEC (NFL farm club) Co-Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam.

Whatever else he can do, a lot of great NFL players did just one thing - sack the quarterback.

I hear another SEC standout is available. Tebow? No, too controversial!

[awoke_in_2003]

22. "Tebow? No, too controversial!"

No, just too big of a suck to media circus ratio.

[yallerdawg]

28. Tony Romo or Tim Tebow?

If I was Dallas...

I seen Tebow win, including playoffs.

[awoke_in_2003]

30. Oh, I agree about Romo...

I may live in Fort Worth, but I am not a Cowboys fan. One thing I do enjoy about Tony- he can be guaranteed to do something very stupid when the chips are down

[7962]

41. I think Tebow would be a good TE. But not much of a QB.

If he wants to get back into the NFL, he needs to realize that.
IMO, of course.

[yallerdawg]

46. Tebow won...

2 national championships and the Heisman. He set SEC and NCAA records. He arguably took Denver to the playoffs. He is inarguably a winner.

Now we see no-huddle spreads and Chip Kelly in the NFL, Tebow was the master of rapid-fire 'who's got the ball' offense. A short-yardage game (why they give you 4 downs to get 10 yards), but Florida's receivers always found a way to get under a Tebow bomb.

They pulled Curt Warner out of a grocery store and he won the Super Bowl. Tebow actually has a clause in his ESPN contract allowing him the option of leaving for football, he has not given up.

In the context of Dallas picking up Michael Sam, the perceived baggage related to Tebow's public 'profession of faith' and the argument - he isn't that good a football player, or he needs to play another position (?) - seems very similar.

It used to be said Dallas stadium had an open roof so God could watch the Cowboys play.

I'd say they need some more divine intervention.

[7962]

59. The list of NCAA winners who couldnt make the NFL transition is a long one.

Its a much faster game. Tebows college career didnt show a lot of passing ability. There have been a lot of championship QBs who either never played or didnt play long in the NFL. Another Fla QB, Danny Wuerffel comes to mind. Never played much NFL ball. And many college QBs are changed to other positions, which is what Tebow needs to do. He's not afraid of contact and he's a pretty big guy. Tough to bring him down, especially if you're a 200lb CB.
He wont be back as a QB. I could be wrong, but how often does THAT happen?

[santroy79]

64. Tebow is a awful NFL QB

thats why no one wants him. Romo is one of the best QB's in the NFL.

[jmowreader]

45. I'd sign Kellen Moore before I even looked at Tebow

Now, if I could sign Tebow as a corner, then maybe.

[underpants]

52. Tebow doesn't even get invites to be a "camp arm"

Yes too much distraction

[theHandpuppet]

8. I always thought Dallas would be the best fit

Only because their defense was so pathetic, even what some would consider a marginal player like Sam would be an upgrade. I surely hope Michael gets to play this season!

[Ash_F]

10. Dallas City Hall was looking at providing marriage benefits to gay employees

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/some-on-dallas-city-council-surprised-gay-employees-dont-have-same-pension-plan-as-straight-workers.html/

I need to check to see if that has gone through.

[RadicalGeek]

11. I Still Say

Seattle would be a good fit too. I am sure the "Legion of Boom" could find a use for him, and the city and area seems friendlier and more tolerant than Dallas.

I'd still advise Mr. Sam to watch his back. . .

[JRLeft]

14. Actually they didn't they cut good pass rushers because they ware loaded with them.

[awoke_in_2003]

24. Dallas is surprisingly gay friendly. nt

[iandhr]

12. Though I am glad Sam has a home...

Puck Fallas. To call the Cowboys America's team is BS

[madokie]

16. I seen a sign in a yard near here a while back

Tuck Fexas LOL

Cowboy fan here.

[big_dog]

17. Jerry Jones actually pretty smart

he just 'rebranded' his image and earned new fans in one fell swoop

[madokie]

18. If he'd stay off the side lines and let his coaches do their jobs

he'd see better results too. No one wants to coach for him cause of his micromanagement. In some ways Jones is smart in others not so much. Actually I think his Ego gets in his way as much as anything.

I like the Cowboys, Jerry Jones not so much

[underpants]

60. Since 1997 the Cowboys are 136-136. He needs to hire a GM.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/25/jerry-jones-ownership-of-cowboys-turns-25-today/

[TeamPooka]

13. Could it be any other team than the Cowboys? said the Giants fan. nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. Not America's team (and also not part of the original title)

Happy for Sam and hope he can be traded the heck out of that cesspool soon.

[bigwillq]

20. Agree. We all know that the Yankees are America's team.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. .

[bigwillq]

26. Ha!

Thanks for replying.

Didn't know if you would or not now that you're a big moderator and all.

[big_dog]

25. no, the Miami Heat are now America's Team

[bigwillq]

27. Nope. The Cavs are.

[big_dog]

29. alight, I KNOW that the Kansas City Royals will be Americas next darling's in 2014-2015

Last edited Tue Sep 2, 2014, 08:11 PM - Edit history (1)

not making the playoffs every quarter century can do that

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. Get back to me when y'all own stock...

[santroy79]

65. sorry but Cowboys are America's Team

just keep hatin'


most popular team in the NFL. #1 sports logo in the world

[athenasatanjesus]

32. 1 less reason to hate the Cowboys,now down to only 113

[Lobo27]

33. Well, he has a chance thats for sure.

Our best player on D is out for the year and our second best got busted for peds. He has a chance.

[AngryAmish]

34. I saw a documentary about the Cowboys some years ago.

It was filmed in the 70s. But it mostly featured a cheerleader....

[Lobo27]

35. I think I saw the same one multiple times.

[AngryAmish]

36. you know, I would start it then lose interest about five minutes in

It took many, many viewings.

But I have always enjoyed documentaries.

[underpants]

54. Documentary or the TV movie starring Bucky Dent?

and Burt Convy?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079024/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2

[AngryAmish]

57. swish

[Paladin]

38. Gay hatred in Texas and love of Dallas Cowboys in Texas: Both greatly exaggerated.

Don't expect (much less hope for) any rioting in the streets over this.

[dembotoz]

42. happy for him but i still hate the cowboys

[davepc]

47. The Cowboys are the only NFL team who can have independent merchandising deals.

[url]http://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciajessop/2013/11/29/jerry-jones-1995-risk-allows-the-dallas-cowboys-to-become-leaders-in-the-growing-womens-sports-apparel-market/[/url]

With portions of its lawsuit dismissed, Jones’ antitrust lawsuit motivated the NFL to do one thing: Settle. The settlement agreement Jones reached with the NFL allowed Texas Stadium Corporation to maintain its contracts with American Express, Pepsi and Nike. It also provided every other NFL team the opportunity to sign their own stadium sponsorship agreements. Arguably, though, Jones was the big winner of the settlement agreement, as he also retained the right for the Cowboys to enter into their own licensing agreements. It is this right that allows the Cowboys to create merchandise apart from the NFL’s licensing agreements.

[url]http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/9755/sams-jersey-sixth-best-seller-in-nfl[/url]

It's pretty common to see a rookie who has never played a game show up on the list of the NFL's best-selling jerseys before training camp even begins. Many college players simply carry the name-value and fan following that makes proving themselves in the NFL unimportant when it comes to purchasing a jersey.

You don't, however, see rookie seventh-round draft picks on the list before they've ever taken a snap. But as we already knew, St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam is clearly not your run-of-the-mill seventh-round draft choice. As the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam has already become one of the most well-known seventh-round picks of all time.

If you needed any further evidence, simply take a look at the list of the top 10 in jersey sales on NFL.com from April 1 to July 17. Sam's No. 96 jersey checks in at No. 6 on the list, behind established NFL stars such as Denver's Peyton Manning and Seattle's Richard Sherman and ahead of the future Hall of Fame quarterback trio of Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. Heady company, for sure.

I think this is less about what the Cowboys can do for Sam and more about what Sam can do for the Cowboys. And not necessarily on the field.

[Man from Pickens]

48. there's certainly some validity to that perspective

Sam does sell jerseys, and in huge numbers.

However, the Cowboys are ALSO the one team in the league most in need of help on the defensive side of the ball. This is the best possible post-cut outcome for Sam, it's the right team for him and one that gives him a real shot at being on the roster and playing in NFL games this season.

[underpants]

53. Very well done davepc

Yep Jerruh has his own merchandise deal. $$$

[Dont call me Shirley]

49. Yay a team signed him, but the Cowboys?

Boo, on the Rams! So St Louis is as homophobic as it is racist, shame shame!

[Skittles]

50. AW COME ON - *DO NOT* give me a reason to root for the Cowboys

[underpants]

55. LOL

I used to be a Cowboys fan. Had to give it up because of Jerruh Jones.

[underpants]

56. Practice squad players who later made it to the BIG TIME

Many NFL players have spent time on practice squads before finding success in the league, including James Harrison, Jason Peters, Danny Amendola, Danny Woodhead and Arian Foster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_team

[DonCoquixote]

61. I hate to rub salt in the wound

For a franchise was has often reveled in showing the worst sides of behavior, from the dallas Cheerleaders to the criminal offenses that led to them earning the nickname "Dalls Convicts" this could not be more fitting. The franchise which is one of the worst examples makes a huge leapfrog to being the only one with the guts to handle this. Kudos.

So I guess we can start hating the New England pats.

[riqster]

66. I'd say that the NFL is a business. This is a good decision that can yield profit.

For us, it's about LGBTQ equality, or the quality of a sporting event.

For the teams, it's about the bottom line.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

67. I'm so tired of hearing about Sam. If he's good enough he should play...

Just like all the other rookies.