Michael Sam's CFL detour could lead back to NFL

Michael Sam needed to get on a football field again.

He'll do it starting next week in training camp with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes, who confirmed Friday they've signed Sam and commenced what he likely hopes is a six-month layover on his journey back to the NFL.

Whether the NFL teams that have passed on Sam repeatedly regard that as a plausible outcome figures to depend in part on what they think of him already.

Because there's no question Sam has a rare pedigree for a CFL signee, at least one who's not arriving washed-up. He was the Southeastern Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year just two years ago. He was an NFL draft pick.

The Canadian game suits him well, too. There are three downs instead of four, leading to more pass attempts. Defensive players must start a yard off the ball, which will help Sam utilize his initial quickness and hands. He can probably drop some of the weight he'd packed on as well.

NFL DRAFT HUB: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis.

"In our league, it's a lot of one-on-one pass rush opportunities," Calgary Stampeders assistant general manager John Murphy told USA TODAY Sports. "He's in the prime of his career. That guy's coming up and playing against some guys who might have a little more tread on their tire."

But all that is also the catch if a stint in an inferior league is needed to convince Sam's doubters in the NFL – and he clearly has a lot of them – that he's worth another look.

He faced arguably better competition in the SEC, had 11½ sacks as a senior in 2013 … and fell to the St. Louis Rams at No. 249 overall in the seventh round.

He faced arguably better competition in the 2014 NFL preseason, registered three sacks in four games … and wasn't claimed by any team after the Rams placed him on waivers.

If his production so far couldn't even land him on a 90-man roster this offseason, how much will teams be swayed by Sam using his relentless motor to whip poor tackles who've never been in an NFL camp?

"If he tears it up, he'll get a look," one high-ranking NFL scout predicted, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons.

"He should be much better off (in the CFL)," the scout added. "He'll be off the ball, which will give him more space to work with. (Offensive linemen) are typically very stiff and slow footed. Undersized (ends) do well over there – even the stiff ones."

The shortcomings NFL scouts have pointed out in Sam's game aren't going away. But if the sacks start to pile up, it will become harder for an entire league to claim the NFL's first openly gay draft pick can't get work based solely on underwhelming physical traits.

Now that Sam is back on the field, he at least has the opportunity to generate pressure in more ways that one.

Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.