Michael Sam Placed On Montreal Alouettes’ Suspended List

Photo © Jamie Squire/Getty Images.

Days after Michael Sam left the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes’ training camp for “personal reasons,” the CFL team has moved the big name athlete to their suspended list.

Michael Sam Moved To Montreal Alouettes’ Suspended List

At the end of May, Michael Sam, the first openly gay athlete to be drafted by the NFL, signed a contract with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes. While it was never guaranteed the athlete would start, both parties believed that he could make an impact entering the 2015 season, which begins next week.

Last week, there were reports that Sam left the Alouettes’ training camp for “personal reasons.” In a statement released on Friday, the team said “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.”

However, since then there has been some insight on why he might have left. An article in the Montreal Gazette cited sources claiming that Sam is unlikely to return.

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“All I know is I heard somebody made a comment about him, about how he wasn’t very good and wasn’t having a very good camp. He took it personally and was pouting in his room,” the source told the Gazette. “It’s very strange. I have no idea what’s going on. He might have a personal issue.”

Still, Alouettes GM, Jim Popp, was surprised by the incident and will welcome Sam back. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he returns. I’m surprised he left. I was very surprised. If he doesn’t come back, I would think football’s over for him. He’s the one that has to face that. But I don’t think he doesn’t want to play football. That’s why he came here.”

After being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2014, he failed to make the team. And after another brief stint with the Dallas Cowboys, he has been out of football until his signing with the Alouettes. By suspending Sam and not releasing him, Montreal retains his rights, which prevents him from signing with any other NFL or CFL team.