Confirms some of my thoughts all along

[SemperHawg]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/03/24/report-rams-avoided-hard-knocks-in-2014-by-drafting-michael-sam/

Regardless of what you think personally of him, physically the guy was a tweener coming out and under normal circumstances would have never been drafted.  Too small to play DE, Too slow to play LB, but hey he got drafted and made some money out of the deal so good for him.

[bennyl08]

There was a politics thread about this. Color me skeptical of the unnamed sources claim to begin with.

Jake Bequette and Chris Smith were both tweeners as well. They both put up better numbers than Sam, but both were drafted higher as well. Sam was Co-Def MVP of the SEC well before there were any politics at play. His combine numbers were pretty bad, but he went from a 4.91 forty to a 4.71 forty at his pro day. Faster track is likely but doesn't come nearly close enough to explaining that large of a difference. If he hadn't pulled a hamstring, presumably several of his other times would have improved as well.

It was well known that his measurables didn't suggest an NFL star. However, it is very common for players like him to be taken late as well. Both players who produced very well in college but don't project well at the NFL and players who have the athleticism to play, but never produced much.

Similarly, I wouldn't be shocked to see that such a story is true. I'm just skeptical that it is.

[SemperHawg]

Comparing Sam to Bequette as a tweener is a reach...Michael Sam as a DE measured at 6'2' 260lbs at the combine.  Bequette measured at 6'5' 274lbs.  Chris Smith is much closer to Sam's size but ran a much faster 40 yard dash and shuttle at the combine.  You can be big and slow or small and fast, but small and slow will not get you and NFL contract.

Sam is a Linebacker in size and a DE in speed...does not translate to the NFL.

[DeltaBoy]

Sam played at the Zoo and he pulled his PR stunt to get drafted to the NFL.