Michael Sam: 'I'm not the only gay person in the NFL'

Michael Sam is the first and only openly gay player drafted to the NFL, but he says he knows of several other gay players in the league today.

"I am not the only gay person in the NFL," Sam said Thursday, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I'm just saying there is a lot of us. I respect the players that did reach out to me and had the courage to tell me that they were also gay, but they do not have the same courage as I do to come out before I even played a down in the NFL."

Sam went on to say he thought coming out wouldn't be a big deal but now realizes it was. Nonetheless, he maintains he isn't being discriminated against because of his sexuality.

"I don’t believe that I’m being discriminated (against) because I’m gay," Sam said. "I just want to know if I’m truly not in the NFL, it’s because of talent. Let it be because of my talents. But you’ve got to prove that I can’t play this game. If you look at the film, clearly I can. So, I’ll leave it at that."

Sam showed well in the 2014 preseason for the St. Louis Rams but failed to earn a spot on the team's deep defensive line. He then spent seven weeks on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad before the team cut him loose.

Sam got the chance to work out for NFL teams at last week's Veteran Combine but turned in a very poor time in the 40-yard dash. There's speculation his NFL career is over before he plays a snap of regular-season football.