The first openly gay player in the NFL officially has a number for a jersey that will sell more briskly than any jersey ever worn by a seventh-round pick.
Via Darren Rovell of ESPN.com, the Rams have assigned No. 96 to Sam, the 249th overall selection in the 2014 draft.
Sam’s jersey sales already have outpaced all rookies except Johnny Manziel’s No. 2 in Cleveland. And as more and more people buy Sam jerseys, it will become more and more difficult for the Rams to cut Sam during training camp or the preseason.
It’s very possible if not probable that Sam will not make the 53-man roster. Coach Jeff Fisher has said that the same process that prompted the Rams to select Sam in the draft could result in the Rams deciding to move on before he ever plays in a regular-season game with the team.