Michael Sam: Joining the Cowboys Is a ‘Dream Come True’

Michael Sam said Wednesday that joining the Dallas Cowboys is a “dream come true” hours after the team signed the openly gay defensive end and assigned him to a practice squad.

The Cowboys picked up Sam, the first openly gay person to be drafted into the National Football League, after he was dropped by the St. Louis Rams on Monday. Sam joined the Dallas Cowboys practice squad on Wednesday, according to the Cowboys website.

Sam is a Texas native who played college football at the University of Missouri.

Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday the decision to add Sam to Dallas’ practice squad was based solely on Sam’s playing ability.

“We felt like it was a good move for our football team right now,” said Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. “We’re bringing a player in we wanted to see on the practice field, and got nothing but good reports about him from our people and the people in St. Louis. We just want to give him a chance to come in and see if he can help our football team.”