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first openly gay player drafted to an NFL team

, has been released by the St. Louis Rams, the team has announced.


Sam, who played defensive end for Missouri in college, was picked 249th out of 256 in the May draft after coming out earlier in the year about his homosexuality.


When the player learned the news, ESPN cameras were rolling as 

Sam and his boyfriend embraced and kissed

, sparking a social media firestorm from some who felt the display was inappropriate.
Cyd Zeigler, co-founder of OutSports, a sports news site that's dedicated to LBGT athletes, 

 in May, that he didn't think that Sam's homosexuality would be a deciding factor, but he also suggested that the groundbreaking nature of the move would make it difficult for the Rams to drop him.
"[Everything's] going to be decided on his ability to help the team win, but I don't think the Rams became the first team ever to draft an openly gay player just to be the first team to cut an openly player," Zeigler told 

 host Melissa Block. "I think that probably somewhere in the back of somebody's head in the Rams organization is the idea that maybe we should find some way to keep him."



Another NFL team could now sign Sam to its roster, or the defensive end 

, on their practice team.
Sam has commented on his release on Twitter, 

 the Rams and the city of St. Louis for giving him the opportunity to play and 

Sports

Sam, who played defensive end for Missouri in college, was picked 249th out of 256 in the May draft after coming out earlier in the year about his homosexuality.


Michael Sam, first openly gay NFL draft, is dropped by Rams

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