Michael Sam ‘refocused’ on trying to make National Football League roster in 2016

The former SEC defensive player of the year and first openly gay football player to get drafted into the NFL has had stints with the Rams and Cowboys but neither ended with him playing in a regular season NFL game.

In an interview with a Missouri television station, Sam said that he’s taking time off from the sport and pursuing a master’s degree at his alma mater but plans on putting on the pads for another shot at the league in 2016.

In mid-August, professional football’s first openly gay player announced he was leaving the Alouettes for the second time in three months, concerned with his mental health.

If Sam does sign with a new team next season, the deal will have to be worked out by a new agent, who Sam has yet to hire. But in Michael Sam’s case, it’s unclear whether those moves are an act of desperation, an excessive backlash over a disappointing run of events, or just the natural consequences of a career that isn’t living up to his expectations.

“I wanted to be the one to tell my own story”.

“Well, you know … it was a really last call to go to the CFL”, Sam told Patrick”.

“Since I came out [as gay] in February 2014, I realized that I’ve been in the media for so long and so much, that I’ve kind of gotten used to it”, Sam told ABC 17. Probably not. Shelf lives in the National Football League are notoriously short, and his Canadian career (such as it was) did him no favors. I feel it was one of many smartest things I have done in a very long time.

“Right now, I’m just focusing on me and what my needs are”, Sam said.

Well, this will definitely be an uphill battle for Sam, but we wish him the best as he tries to return to the NFL.

Sam, who called himself “a damn good” football player, said he still wants to play in the NFL and is training for that opportunity.