Report: Michael Sam’s ‘preferential treatment’ irks Montreal teammates

Michael Sam made his long-delayed debut with the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night. The guy hasn’t played in a meaningful game in a long time, and this performance was not worth the wait.

The former Missouri standout failed to make a tackle during the 12 plays he was on the field and, according to the Montreal Gazette, was badly fooled on a play-action pass that resulted in an Ottawa touchdown during the 26-23 Alouettes loss.

But the Gazette didn’t restrict its criticism of Sam to his play on the field.

Sam spent two weeks away from Montreal’s training camp for personal reasons, with the Gazette saying he “walked out on his teammates.” When he returned, Sam was placed on the 46-man roster but did not play until six games into the season.

Gazette writer Herb Zurkowsky disagrees with this move, saying “the organization has completely mishandled the scenario and Sam has become a distraction.”

Zurkowsky adds, “Privately, more and more players are criticizing the preferential treatment he has received.”

This comes weeks after an Edmonton Sun report of some CFL players thinking of Sam as an “American prima donna.”

Sam was picked by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 draft but didn’t make the team’s regular season roster. He spent last season on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad but was cut in March.

He signed a two-year deal with Montreal in May, becoming the first openly gay player in CFL history.