What's Going On With Michael Sam?

The last time we checked in with Michael Sam, he had signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. But just three weeks later, and the day before the Alouettes’ first exhibition match, Sam has left the team amidst murky circumstances. The Alouettes released a curious statement regarding it:

The Montreal Alouettes organization would like to clarify the situation surrounding international defensive end Michael Sam. Friday morning, Michael asked the team for special permission to leave training camp and return home for personal reasons.

Out of respect for Michael Sam, the nature of this decision will remain confidential.

The Montreal Alouettes fully respect Michael Sam’s decision and we rally around him to offer all the support needed. The team has left the door open and Michael is welcome to come back whenever he feels ready.

This isn’t the type of wording normally used when a player leaves a team due to something like injury or bereavement, and Alouettes coach Tom Higgins doesn’t seem to have a clue about what’s going on with his team. Via the Montreal Gazette:

Following Friday’s workout, head coach Tom Higgins said Sam had attended team meetings Thursday night. “This surprises me right now. I thought he would have been out here,” Higgins said.

After being cut from two different NFL squads, it looks like Sam’s Canadian adventure might be over before it even really began.

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