Less than four weeks after he became a member of the Rams, defensive end Michael Sam knows that much work remains to be done if he’s going to make the team in September.
“I’ve got to step my game up to compete with this defensive line,” Sam said Friday, via David Morrison of USA Today. “I thought our defensive line at Mizzou was pretty tough. This is a whole new level. I’ve got to up my game.”
Making Sam’s challenge a little less complicated is that his status as the first openly gay NFL player has been a non-issue for his teammates.
“They respect me as a human being,” Sam said, via the Associated Press. “And as a football player.”
Teammate Chris Long confirmed it’s not an issue.
“Only the media cares,” Long said, via the Associated Press. “The players don’t care, we just care about what kind of football player you are. We got a steal in whatever round we took him in.”
To truly be a steal, Sam has to win one of those coveted 53 spots on the roster. He’s got less than three months to do it.