NFL prospect Michael Sam comes out as gay

Michael Sam on sidelines of Bama-Mizzou game

Watch Michael Sam totally own TMZ

Michael Sam dissed TMZ earlier this week, so they made up some cockamamie headline that didn't begin to reflect the words of the NFL's first openly gay player. Epic fail.

'The Gay Athlete' should be Sportsman of the Year

No individual or group of people transformed the conversation around sports - and dominated headlines - for all of 2014 like LGBT people in sports.

Michael Sam does not regret coming out

Michael Sam doesn't wish he had not come out publicly, like the media is claiming. Instead, he wishes we lived in a world in which celebrities like him could live life without looking over their shoulders. It's an important nuance.

Michael Sam wishes he hadn't come out publicly

"If I had it my way, I never would have done it the way I did," he says in a GQ interview.

Michael Sam named to GQ's Men of the Year

Michael Sam, the openly gay defensive end, is acknowledged for the contribution of his coming out to society and sports.

Deion Sanders tweets more about gays and God

Deion Sanders, NFL great, tweeted with me and others about his feelings that being gay "could be" a choice.

Deion Sanders: Being gay 'could be' a choice

Deion Sanders tells Larry King he thinks being gay "could be" a choice because, in part, "the God I know doesn't make mistakes."

SI nominates Michael Sam for Sportsman of the Year

Michael Sam's courage dominated sports news all year long.

Sam being cut will make other gay athletes pause

Whatever the reality, the perception is that being openly gay hurt Sam's chances in the NFL.

LSU fraternity apologizes for Michael Sam banner

"Michael isn't the only Sam getting the 'D' tonight," read the sign. The frat apologized.

Cowboys signing Sam saves NFL from a P.R. fiasco

Had Sam not made a practice squad, it would have showed that homophobia trumps performance.

Sam rejection by NFL pushes athletes into closet

The "domino effect" of NFL teams not signing Michael Sam in the first 48 hours after he was cut will push some gay athletes deeper into the closet.

Sam done with the Rams as NFL options dwindle

The rookie defensive end is unclaimed during the waiver period, but can still wind up on a practice squad.

Michael Sam cut by St. Louis Rams

Michael Sam has been cut by the St. Louis Rams. The other 31 NFL teams now have 24 hours to claim him off of waivers.

Decision day

Sam faces several scenarios as the Rams decide whether to keep him.

Michael Sam's first game Friday on NFL Network

Gay NFL rookie Michael Sam is currently third on the depth chart at right defensive end. He'll play life on NFL Network for the first time Friday at 8pmET.

Michael Sam's perfect response to Tony Dungy

Michael Sam uses humor and respect in responding to Tony Dungy.

Tony Dungy supported Michael Vick's TV show

Tony Dungy champions a dog-killing born-again Christian with a TV show but shuns a gay man with a TV show.

Watch: ESPN's Michael Sam short doc ESPYs film

ESPN produced a fantastic package on Michael Sam's life. They broadcast it before the openly gay NFL player accepted his ESPY.

Podcast: Sam's ESPY, MLB hires Billy Bean

Michael Sam accepted an ESPY Award for his courage, while Billy Bean was hired by Major League Baseball to head up diversity issues. Where does this now leave baseball in the race for inclusion?

Michael Sam's tears were real, and so were yours

Michael Sam accepted ESPN's Arthur Ashe Courage Award for coming out as gay before the NFL Draft. Now he sets out to write the final act in this transformative year in sports.

Who will present Arthur Ashe Award to Michael Sam?

I strongly recommended a tough or religious NFL player to present the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to Michael Sam.

Michael Sam on the cover of Out magazine

With training camp just a couple weeks away, Michael Sam appears on the cover of a gay men's magazine for the first time.

SEC gives award to Missouri football

The way the team handled and embraced Michael Sam's coming out as gay last season earned the Missouri Tigers football team respect from SEC athletic directors.