The release of Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player, from the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad, is a huge disappointment for the gay community, WCBS Radio 880 sportscaster Jared Max says.
"I'm disappointed and the reaction I saw on social media like Twitter and Facebook was also disappointing from some openly gay players in college sports and among the LGBT community," Max said Wednesday on the "Steve Malzberg Show" on
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"This is disappointing in the sense that there are some kids out there who are athletes, who are in the closet … who weren't inspired yesterday when this news came out."
Sam spent seven weeks with the Cowboys after joining their practice squad, four days after he was among the final cuts by the St. Louis Rams at the end of the preseason, according to The Associated Press.
Sam was never placed on the 53-man active roster.
"There was a lot of hope the day Michael Sam was drafted for younger athletes," said Max, who is openly gay.
"Sam has shouldered more than enough of the load for LGBT athletes. You can't tell me that there aren't gay players in the National Football League or in other leagues."
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