Montreal Alouettes GM hopes to sign NFL free agent Michael Sam
The general manager of the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes says that his team has a "50-50" chance of signing NFL free agent Michael Sam for this CFL season.
Sam has been a free agent since being released from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad in October.
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He became the first openly gay player selected in the NFL draft when the St. Louis Rams chose him in the seventh round in 2014. The team cut Sam at the end of training camp after he made three sacks during the preseason.
"The CFL is cut out perfectly for his style," Alouettes general manager Jim Popp told the Montreal Gazette. "It would give him the opportunity to do what he does best."
Montreal holds the exclusive CFL rights to Sam.
Sam said that signing with the team was a possibility. The defensive end is currently competing on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars" and recently attended the NFL’s veteran combine in Arizona.
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Popp says he has spoken to Sam’s Los Angeles-based agent about joining the team. The CFL regular season starts on June 25, with a matchup between Montreal and the Ottawa Redblacks.
“His agent knows. They're ready," Popp said. "They know this (CFL) may be what it is. It's Michael who has to make the decision - and he might never come. The indications were he was ready to come last fall, and he's still not with us. So I really don't know. Seriously, I'd say our chances are 50/50."
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