Defensive end Michael Sam has finally found a new home with a football team, but it will not be in the NFL this time.
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Sam has signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes, who hail from the Canadian Football League.
The defensive end had begun his professional football journey with the St. Louis Rams, who drafted him in the seventh round of the 2014 draft before he was released.
Sam eventually joined the Dallas Cowboys on their practice squad, but he was released by them as well before being unable to find another job in the NFL.
He ran a 4.99 40-yard dash at the NFL veteran combine, making his case to stay in the NFL even more difficult, but the Alouettes have had the rights to Sam since his senior season at Missouri.
Sam is widely known as the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team, the Alouettes insisted that his sexual orientation had nothing to do with him being signed.
“Michael Sam is a very good football player, and that’s the reason we signed him. He’s an outstanding pass rusher,” Alouettes general manager Jim Popp said to ESPN.
Despite his size and skills being a concern in the NFL, Sam shined at Missouri as he came up with 11.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in his final college season.
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