Smith cut by Cowboys to make room for Sam

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This article was published 12/10/2014 (4070 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Linebacker Will Smith is a Winnipeg Blue Bomber because linebacker Michael Sam is a Dallas Cowboy.

Smith, who was added to the practice roster Friday, was cut from the Cowboys practice squad in early September to make room for Sam, pro football’s first openly gay player.

The move was a bit of a curious one — the Cowboys actually drafted Smith ahead of Sam in the seventh round at the 2014 NFL Draft, leaving the St. Louis Rams to draft Sam later in the same round.

But when St. Louis cut Sam at the end of training camp, the Cowboys apparently had a change of heart and jettisoned Smith to make room for Sam on their practice squad.

Smith seemed to hint Saturday after the Bombers practiced at Investors Group Field he feels the Cowboys’ moves had more to do with just football.

“Honestly, there was a lot of stuff behind it. But it’s just part of the business and I understood that,” said Smith, a Texas Tech grad and MVP of the 2013 Holiday Bowl.

“But I was a bit bummed. (Dallas) was my favourite team growing up. But that’s part of the game.”

Smith was asked directly if he felt politics were involved in the move to add Sam to the practice squad.

“I’m not going to speak on that,” said Smith with a smile.

Smith said he leapt at the chance this week to sign with the Bombers instead of trying to latch on to another NFL practice squad.

“It was time. I wanted to get back on the field instead of waiting around down there,” he said. “I figured, why not take advantage of this opportunity?”

The Bombers have Smith practising at middle linebacker.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek