If the Rams Cut Michael Sam, Should the Cards Pick Him Up?

[juza76]

That makes zero sense. He's been cut from 2 teams now. If he could play he'd be out there.

cameron wake had to play in CFL cause they didnt considering him a good player,the field give the response that u need not just some coaches observation.
warner had to play some years in nfl europe.antonio smith too
sometimes coaches making mistakes evaluating players potential.
burfict if he couldnt land in cincinnati maybe could be out of the league too.
i dont say sam is worth a roster spot,but at least as good player in college maybe he could deserve to try to make some plays on the field

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

cameron wake had to play in CFL cause they didnt considering him a good player,the field give the response that u need not just some coaches observation.
warner had to play some years in nfl europe.antonio smith too
sometimes coaches making mistakes evaluating players potential.
burfict if he couldnt land in cincinnati maybe could be out of the league too.
i dont say sam is worth a roster spot,but at least as good player in college maybe he could deserve to try to make some plays on the field

When he develops his skills and is good enough, he'll play. It may take time like the others you mentioned.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

I believe this timeline is correct:

Sam performed extremely well in college. He was rated a 3rd to 4th round prospect going into the draft.

Then he came out gay and dropped to the 7th.

Then came a media circus and some bad choices by Sam including the Oprah show.

Then he played well in the preseason.

Then came out garbage that his teammates didn't want him to shower with him from ESPN, which may or may not be true.

Then he was cut by the team that drafted him.

Then the NFL made calls to several teams asking for one to pick him up on the practice squad lest the league be judged discriminatory (real or not)

Then Dallas picked him up

Then injuries erupted all over the NFL and no one gave him a shot on their team despite performing extremely well in college and well in the preseason.

To say he has been judged solely on his ability to play football is hogwash. He absolutely has been effected by a mixture of bad choices on his part, the media circus around him (which is also part of those bad choices), and yes outright bigotry.

So I stand by my comment that the whole thing is crap

 

[crisper57]

He has been on 2 teams with 2 of the hardest defenses to break into this year. I am told he can only play in a 4-3. So that might reduce his prospects slightly too.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

He has been on 2 teams with 2 of the hardest defenses to break into this year. I am told he can only play in a 4-3. So that might reduce his prospects slightly too.

Hmm...it is actually the opposite. Scouts considered him a hybrid player who would struggle more playing in the 4-3

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I believe this timeline is correct:

Sam performed extremely well in college. He was rated a 3rd to 4th round prospect going into the draft.

Then he came out gay and dropped to the 7th.

Then came a media circus and some bad choices by Sam including the Oprah show.

Then he played well in the preseason.

Then came out garbage that his teammates didn't want him to shower with him from ESPN, which may or may not be true.

Then he was cut by the team that drafted him.

Then the NFL made calls to several teams asking for one to pick him up on the practice squad lest the league be judged discriminatory (real or not)

Then Dallas picked him up

Then injuries erupted all over the NFL and no one gave him a shot on their team despite performing extremely well in college and well in the preseason.

To say he has been judged solely on his ability to play football is hogwash. He absolutely has been effected by a mixture of bad choices on his part, the media circus around him (which is also part of those bad choices), and yes outright bigotry.

So I stand by my comment that the whole thing is crap

You forgot that he tested among the worst players at the combine, is undersized, and limited to a 4-3 scheme.

Burfict, as used earlier, tested horribly at the combine, had off field issues and went undrafted.

It seems you're making a lot of assumptions as fact. I'll stand by my stance that if a team thought he could help them win, he'd be playing.

Have all the other players that have been cut from the PS been "a load of crap" to you, or just the openly gay one?

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Show me where I made assumptions...

Edit: I have actually researched the timeline now and it is accurate. The bombshell today is that the NFL called teams and asked them to sign him due to fear of being labeled discriminatory.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

The "limited to a 4-3 scheme" isn't correct. I am reading his Scouts Inc draft profile and he is a "3/4 hybrid OLB/DE that will struggle to play in a 4/3 due to strength"

His combine scores are why he was rated a 3rd to 4th round prospect prior to the draft. Source - Scouts Inc.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Burfict, as used earlier, tested horribly at the combine, had off field issues and went undrafted.

Good example...what are Michael Sam's off field issues?

 

[crisper57]

Seems No One Can Agree on the Best System For Him

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...hael-sam-dallas-cowboys-jerry-jones/14993661/

Sam, for all of the hustle that helped him notch three sacks during the preseason, is essentially a one-dimensional defensive end who needs to play in a 4-3. He does not appear to be fast and fluid enough to convert to an outside linebacker post in a 3-4, which is why he wouldn't fit, scheme-wise, for teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...son-roster-cut-release-cowboys-vikings-giants

It will take a desperate 4-3 team to add Sam this late. Half of the teams in the NFL run that as a base.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/138327/inside-slant-learning-from-michael-sams-week

I spoke with a veteran scout Tuesday morning who said the consensus pre-draft evaluation of Sam largely held up during the preseason. Despite the decision to drop 13 pounds before training camp to maximize his speed, Sam didn't prove fast enough to be an NFL-level edge rusher in a 4-3 scheme. And at 257 pounds, he's at least 20-25 pounds too light to fit into other roles: Either as a 3-4 defensive end or as a "swing" backup who can play both inside and outside. (It's worth noting that the defensive lineman who beat out Sam for the Rams' final roster spot, Ethan Westbrooks, can play all four line spots in the 4-3.)

http://www.sportsonearth.com/articl...st-louis-rams-still-has-nfl-options-on-roster

His best fit is a 4-3 defense, and about half the teams use it as a base defense, but he could fit into some teams 3-4, if they are willing to work with him or are in need of an edge pass rusher.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Another way of looking at this.

How many openly gay or openly accused of being gay players can you name? I can only name 2 and neither play in the NFL. And one was a really good player.

Is it discrimination or is it just not wanting to deal with the media crapstorm? Hard to say and likely a mixture of both depending on the team. I certainly don't feel Sam did himself any favors in this situation as he added to the media crapstorm.

Of course, a lot could be said about putting emphasis on the distraction of sexuality compared to the myriad of real issues NFL players face off the field.

 

[crisper57]

Sam just needs to go beat up his partner and he will be welcomed with open arms in San Francisco.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Sam just needs to go beat up his partner and he will be welcomed with open arms in San Francisco.

I am embarrassed to say I laughed at that

 

[BigRedRage]

Hmm...it is actually the opposite. Scouts considered him a hybrid player who would struggle more playing in the 4-3

I dont see how he would fit in a 3-4 at all, IMO his fit is 4-3.

 

[juza76]

I dont see how he would fit in a 3-4 at all, IMO his fit is 4-3.

his sexual orientation doesnt fit well in the locker room.
coaches are intelligent person and they know this,is not about them ,but the level of culture of the players in the nfl.
do u remeber dockett behaviour against kerry rhodes?

 

[82CardsGrad]

The "limited to a 4-3 scheme" isn't correct. I am reading his Scouts Inc draft profile and he is a "3/4 hybrid OLB/DE that will struggle to play in a 4/3 due to strength"



His combine scores are why he was rated a 3rd to 4th round prospect prior to the draft. Source - Scouts Inc.

I don't ever recall reports on Sam that said he could play OLB in a 3-4... Everything I heard/read is that he struggles in coverage and is strictly a pass rushing threat...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BigRedRage]

his sexual orientation doesnt fit well in the locker room.
coaches are intelligent person and they know this,is not about them ,but the level of culture of the players in the nfl.
do u remeber dockett behaviour against kerry rhodes?

His behavior toward Kerry was Kerry telling him let the D score and him not wanting to. I do believe that had anything to do with orientation. Maybe it could help it escalate faster but they played together for 2 years or so without any other problems.

 

[TRW]

Another way of looking at this.

How many openly gay or openly accused of being gay players can you name? I can only name 2 and neither play in the NFL. And one was a really good player.

Is it discrimination or is it just not wanting to deal with the media crapstorm? Hard to say and likely a mixture of both depending on the team. I certainly don't feel Sam did himself any favors in this situation as he added to the media crapstorm.

Of course, a lot could be said about putting emphasis on the distraction of sexuality compared to the myriad of real issues NFL players face off the field.

I think this sums up Michael Sam's situation in a nut shell.

 

[Cheesebeef]

at this point, the kid might just not have the goods. He was drafted, didn't make the team. Then he was on a practice squad (with very little media fanfare) and couldn't cut it there either.

I was a big advocate of him getting a shot, but he might have gotten it and just not been good enough at this point.

 

[Mathew81]

The Cowboys signed him because they had lost their rookie 2nd round pick DE Demarcus Lawrence for the first half of the season. Also, Anthony Spencer was coming back from a year long injury so they weren't sure what they were going to get from him or if he was going to be able to stay on the field. So Sam was the emergency backup.

Reasons why he was cut:

-Spencer and the rest of the DL (minus Lawrence) have been both healthy and playing better than expected.
-Lawrence is back at practice and is reportedly looking impressive (he's eligible to play against the Cardinals)
-From what I've heard/read from Dallas media, Sam's pass rushing was just OK but he was terrible against the run
-The Cowboys have been picking up a lot of injuries at LB and they used Sam's spot to pick up some depth there

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

I hope the media lets this go.. He got not one, but two chances.

If he had shown either team a reason to keep him... WHY WOULD THEY NOT??

I think both of his cuts were based purely off of football skill (or lack of)
If it was any other reason, we would have heard about it.
i.e "Sam tried to install a glory hole in the men's locker room"

 

[Bert]

at this point, the kid might just not have the goods. He was drafted, didn't make the team. Then he was on a practice squad (with very little media fanfare) and couldn't cut it there either.

I was a big advocate of him getting a shot, but he might have gotten it and just not been good enough at this point.

I have to agree with this.

First of all though I still believe that the NFL has issues with gays. The Kerry Rhodes situation makes it completely obvious. At whatever level they just aren't ready. I mean Kerry was playing at the highest level of his career, he was a really solid NFL corner until rumors and accusations of being gay surface and boom, he was out of the league.

That being said Sam has been given a shot by 2 different teams and couldn't make either roster.

So to the original point, gay or not, why would the Cardinals bring in a rookie who has been cut twice already and cant even make a practice squad? If he wasn't gay we wouldn't even be talking about the random guy who got cut from the Cowboys practice squad.

 

[GuernseyCard]

I have to agree with this.

First of all though I still believe that the NFL has issues with gays. The Kerry Rhodes situation makes it completely obvious. At whatever level they just aren't ready. I mean Kerry was playing at the highest level of his career, he was a really solid NFL corner until rumors and accusations of being gay surface and boom, he was out of the league.

That being said Sam has been given a shot by 2 different teams and couldn't make either roster.

So to the original point, gay or not, why would the Cardinals bring in a rookie who has been cut twice already and cant even make a practice squad? If he wasn't gay we wouldn't even be talking about the random guy who got cut from the Cowboys practice squad.

1. Kerry Rhodes was offered a contract at reduce rate by the Cards and turned it down.

2. Guys getting cut multiple times before finding a home is hardly novel in football.

 

[Cheesebeef]

1. Kerry Rhodes was offered a contract at reduce rate by the Cards and turned it down.

has this ever actually been corroborated by Urban or Somers... and if so, were terms of the contract offer ever released? people can make offers just to say they made them, knowing full well, they player would never take such a paycut if it was beyond lowball.

 

[Finito]

has this ever actually been corroborated by Urban or Somers... and if so, were terms of the contract offer ever released? people can make offers just to say they made them, knowing full well, they player would never take such a paycut if it was beyond lowball.

It's pretty well known they offered him an extension and he wanted to " test the market"