Quotables: Montreal Alouettes reach out to Michael Sam, and Robert Griffin III says Washington’s offense is ready for the regular season
Also, 49ers Ray McDonald says “the truth will come out” regarding his arrest for felony domestic violence.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
“With no other teams knocking on the door, what’s next for [Michael] Sam? The Canadian Football League is one option.”
- Dan Hanzus, on the current career options for openly gay football player Michael Sam
Despite concerns to the contrary, Michael Sam was just another football player trying to make an NFL roster. He performed reasonably well and even saved a football fan from bankruptcy, but ultimately the St. Louis Rams released him. Head coach Jeff Fisher said the right things, and Sam made his own classy statement. Most figured the former Missouri defensive end would either land on another team's 53-man roster or on the Rams' practice squad. After two days, it doesn't appear either is on the horizon for Sam. However, the CFL could be an option according to NFL.com's Dan Hanzus:
“NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that the Montreal Alouettes, who own Sam’s rights, have reached out to the defensive end, according to a CFL source. Sam has yet to get back to the team.”
Perhaps Michael Sam wasn’t ready for a spot on a 53, but it seems rather ridiculous that he can’t find a job on the practice squad of any of the NFL’s 32 teams. It’s even more ridiculous when considering that the league expanded each practice squad from eight to 10 spots this season.
“We fixed what we needed to fix in practice.”
- Robert Griffin III, on the readiness of the Washington offense
If you’ve been paying attention to the plight of Washington’s offense during the preseason, you likely noticed the starters didn’t produce any touchdowns. That’s a problem, especially for its franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin didn’t live up to expectations last year while recovering from a torn ACL and playing with a restrictive brace over the knee. Griffin didn’t play much better this preseason, but according to Rich Tandler of CSN Washington he thinks the offense will be just fine:
“I think the biggest thing for everyone was that we didn’t score any touchdowns in the preseason but as long as we score touchdowns in the regular season that doesn’t matter for us as an offense,” he said. “We had two solid games and we put together a bad one. That’s what everybody remembers and that’s fine. We’ll get that taste out of our mouth when we play Houston.”
In those “two solid games” Griffin went a combined 8-of-12 for 121 yards, zero touchdowns, and an interception. He was even worse in his final preseason start, going 5-of-8 for only 20 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Griffin will need to play a little better to give his offense a chance during the regular season.
“The truth will come out.”
- Ray McDonald, on his arrest for domestic violence
Only three days after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed his overhaul of the league's domestic abuse policy, San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald was arrested for allegedly battering his fiancée at a party. He was charged Sunday with felony domestic violence and was released that evening. McDonald believes that the story being portrayed in the media is inaccurate, according to statements made to KTVU:
“The truth will come out, you know. I can’t say too much right now but the truth will come out. Everybody knows what kind of person I am. I’m a good-hearted person,” McDonald said.
With the spotlight on the NFL for its admitted mishandling of Ray Rice’s domestic violence allegations, the league will have to make sure not to appear too lenient in light of this latest infraction by one of its players.
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