Michael Sam clocks slow unofficial times at NFL veteran combine

TEMPE, Ariz. – Michael Sam can't use his 40-yard dash time as his ticket for another shot at the NFL.

Sam's unofficial times of 5.07 seconds and 5.10 in the 40-yard dash on Sunday -- when he was the biggest name of the approximately 100 participants in the NFL's first veteran combine – were worse than his marks before last year's draft.

The former Missouri defensive end, who gained notoriety by becoming the first openly gay player to enter the NFL draft, appeared to be a bit leaner, with more muscle mass, as he participated in drills before NFL teams at the Arizona Cardinals headquarters.

But the numbers may hurt his case. Sam ran 4.91 at the combine in Indianapolis last year, then 4.69, unofficially, at Missouri's pro day. Now he's timed even slower.

"I did my best," Sam told reporters after the session.

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Sam was released on the final preseason cutdown after he was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams last year. After that, he lasted only a few weeks on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.

His celebrity status helped land him a slot on Dancing With The Stars, but football is his passion.

"I'm still the same ole me," he said. "Nothing's changed about me."

That a player who was named the SEC's co-Defensive Player of the Year in his final collegiate season hasn't found another football job fuels debate of whether his sexual orientation has limited opportunity.

Although the 40-time doesn't help his case, his performance – which included various agility and pass-rush drills -- wasn't a lost cause. One NFL general manager told USA TODAY Sports that he thought that Sam worked out well, and was interested to compare his 40-yard dash time to last year's marks.

Sam's times in the 40 paled when compared to the 4.53 that Clemson's Vic Beasley clocked as the best time by a D-lineman at the most recent combine for incoming rookies in Indianapolis. Still, Sam's marks were actually at the high end of his group on Sunday.

Among 17 defensive linemen, just three timed under 5 seconds, led by Caesar Rayford's 4.90. Former first-round picks Jamaal Anderson and Adam Carriker posted times of 5.25 and 5.20, respectively.

Sam indicated that he is a long way from giving up his dream of playing in the NFL.

Sure, there's a high-profile dance competition to occupy him at the moment. But he hopes that will a pitstop on the way to another NFL training camp.

Said Sam, "I am very confident that I will be playing football this year…somewhere."

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Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell