The Montreal Alouettes have held steady in terms of their line to win the Grey Cup in 2015. The team started the season with 8-1 betting odds and continue to hold this line. The Als are practically in the middle of the pack this season.
However, there was plenty of buzz surrounding the team’s signing of defensive lineman Michael Sam. Much has been made over Sam primarily from a social standpoint. This comes as Sam was the first openly gay person to have been drafted into the NFL.
While many have been excited about Sam breaking down a possibly social barrier, Sam never got to play in the regular season with the St. Louis Rams in 2014. This came in spite of Sam being the top defensive player in the SEC in the 2013 season.
Reports are that Sam did not do as well as some of the other defensive linemen that the Als have been practicing for the 2015 season. He had even tried to move to the outside linebacker position for a period of time. This is a move similar to what he was doing during the months leading to the 2014 NFL Draft.
Considering his results when compared with other Alouettes defensive players, Sam’s departure is not expected to be a big factor in the 2015 season The Alouettes will more than likely stick with the same 8-1 odds in our sportsbook that they had at the start of the season.
This does not mean that Michael Sam will be removed from the team altogether. He left the team for personal reasons and while his return is questionable, the Als have officially suspended him. This means that the team can still hold his playing rights. This means that he will be more likely to play in Montreal again if he does come back. However, this also means that he would not be able to play for an NFL team unless he is actually relieved from his contract with the Alouettes.