With the excitement and optimism of a new football season upon us, it is with sadness that we relay that veteran St. Louis/Dallas/Montreal defensive end, Michael Sam, is walking away from the life of north american professional football after a career that included college accolades of 2013 All-SEC First Team, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and unanimous All-American honors. Off the field, he was honored with the 2014 Arthur Ashe Courage Award, named on the GQ Men of the Year list, and was a finalist for Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year. Sam also competed on the ABC prime-time hit, Dancing with the Stars. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams where, just 51 weeks ago, he went on to enjoy twice sacking and taunting Cleveland Browns quarterback and fellow rookie, Johnny Manziel.

But, as we all know, it’s what you do between the white lines that gets you consideration for the Hall of Fame so I say we let the stats speak for themselves:

Ok then.

Citing mental health concerns, Sam announced on Friday afternoon that he would be leaving the Montreal Allouettes via the Twitter App. Twitter is an online social networking service that enables user to send and read short 140-charter messages called “tweets”. Until 1974, homosexuality was listed as a mental illness.

With both NFL and CFL Sam gear still available, Roger Goodell is expectedly morning only the loss of the potential gains of being able to broadcast the first gay player with the first female referee and first lady coach. However, expect The Shield to look to capitalize by flipping the Michael Sam St. Louis Rams 2014 NFL Draft Silver Color Coin at the Super Bowl L Coin Toss Presented by Bud Light.

Be it as an interior decorator, fashion expert, style manager, personal grooming professional, or the culture one, For The Straight Guy, we wish him all the best in his next career opportunity.