NFL Notes: Michael Sam, Eagles, & Patriots

Michael Sam

Montreal Alouettes GM Jim Popp expects DE Michael Sam to return at some point, despite leaving the team for personal reason a few weeks ago.

“I think he will be back,” Popp told Les Carpenter of The Guardian. “I’ll be surprised if he is not back. He wants to play. I will be very surprised if he is not back.”

“I think he needed a break,” Popp said. “That’s my personal belief. I think it was just overwhelming to some degree, and he needs to clear his mind, clear his head. Do I think he wants to play? Do I think he wants to be on the field? Do I think he wants to be Michael Sam the football player? I, 100 percent, believe that. Yes.”

Popp doesn’t think that the media attention played a role in Sam leaving the team.

“I don’t think he thought of it [as groundbreaking] when he came out,” Popp said. “When he does actually say it – you have to remember this – he’s already established, he’s the leader of the team, the star defensive player, and everybody’s already his buddies and friends and they already knew a lot of [it]. So everything was great. Now when you’re starting a pro career and that story is out, now you’re every other rookie that comes in to a professional camp.

“It’s not easy, it’s a tough go to try and break through. There’s a limited percentage of people in the world who ever get that job, and it’s just tough. I’m sure that with the additional pressure of being the first openly gay player and all the attention that comes with that, it’s even tougher.”

Eagles

Andrew Brandt of MMQB.com reports that there were some “loose conversations” between the Eagles and QB Sam Bradford about a potential contract extension after the trade went through with the Rams.

However, Brandt adds that an extension was never a trade contingency.

• Brandt seems to think Bradford has some leverage now that he’s about to enter the final year of his rookie contract.
• Brandt gets the sense that the Eagles want to secure Bradford at a similar or perhaps even lower rate than his scheduled $13 million, at least in the short term.
• In the end, Brandt doesn’t expect the two sides to get a deal in place before he’s in position to test the open market next year.

Patriots

• The NFL Players Association officially filed a complaint against the Patriots for not allowing CB Malcolm Butler to participate in on-field activities because he missed a voluntary session on May 26, according to ESPN.