Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on Michael Sam: 'This is about football.'

Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said signing Michael Sam to the practice squad is strictly about football. “We feel like he has a chance to come in and

Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said signing Michael Sam to the practice squad is strictly about football.

“We feel like he has a chance to come in and compete for a spot,” Garrett said Wednesday, shortly after the Sam signing was announced. “We got nothing but good reports about him. This is about football. We evaluated him as a football player. Our attention is on football.”

Sam, who became the first openly gay player selected in the NFL draft when St. Louis picked him in the seventh round this year, did not make the Rams' roster and was not signed to their practice squad after clearing waivers. The 24-year-old compiled three sacks and 11 tackles over four preseason games with St. Louis.

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Former Colts coach Tony Dungy, who came under scrutiny in July for saying he wouldn't have drafted Michael Sam because he "wouldn't want to deal with all of it," has commended Sam for his play during the preseason.

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In his final season at Missouri, Sam recorded 11.5 sacks and was named the SEC's defensive player of the year.

- Chris Johnson