The planned docu-series around Rams DE Michael Sam on the Oprah Winfrey Network "was postponed Friday, with no time frame in place as to when the project might resume," according to Jim Thomas of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Rams officials and coaches "were unaware of the project prior to the draft, and unhappy about it." Empire Athletes agent Cameron Weiss, who reps Sam, met with the Rams on Friday, where it was "decided to put the project on ice." Weiss said that there "was no timetable on resuming the project." But he added, "We are all still committed to telling the story." Sam, who will "try to make the team as a designated pass rusher and special teams player, took part in individual drills with the Rams’ three other rookie defensive linemen Friday." About 30 media members "were on hand, including 12 still or video cameras." The overall attendance "was roughly equivalent to a mid-week practice during the regular season." A camera crew from OWN was "on hand filming the practice and interviewing reporters afterwards." Friday began with the NFL "taking umbrage to reports and statements made by Weiss earlier in the week that the league knew about the Sam 'docu-series' before he was drafted and was OK with it." Weiss had "indicated otherwise on Thursday during a radio interview" on WGNU-AM. Weiss in the interview said, "We had communicated to the league office what our plans were" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/19). NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said that OWN had "not signed any agreement that would allow the network to use league footage or any of its trademarks in the show" (ESPN.com, 5/16).
LOSING THOSE GOOD VIBRATIONS: VARIETY's Brian Lowry wrote Sam's breakthrough into the NFL will "only have legs if he becomes a regular member of the Rams roster, at which point, hopefully, endorsement deals and all other manner of money-making enterprises will follow." Sam’s OWN deal "looked like greediness -- and at the very least naiveté -- on the part of his representatives, so eager to exploit all the publicity that they put the cart ahead of the horse" (VARIETY.com, 5/16).
In Boston, Ben Volin wrote Sam is an "easy guy to root for, and it was fascinating to see so many media, Rams fans, and NFL fans in general turn against him" when the docu-series was announced. But the fact that Sam "wanted to participate" in a behind-the-scenes show seems to have "squandered a lot of the good will he had generated" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/18). In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote Sam and his handlers "made a gigantic miscalculation." Sam "tarnished his feel-good story because he did exactly what he asked the world not to do: take the focus off his football dream and put it back on him being gay" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/18). THE MMQB's Peter King writes in the end, Sam "did the right thing." And OWN "did the right thing too, in sitting down with the Rams Friday and not trying to convince club officials what a great show this was going to be." OWN told the Rams it "would happily postpone the series -- or perhaps never do it -- if that was the best thing for Sam’s attempt to make the team." The meeting Friday "was only positive ... because OWN was clear that the only way it would do the series is if Sam wanted it and the Rams wanted it" (MMQB.SI.com, 5/19).
DISAPPOINTING END: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote Sam "must perform better in Rams training camp than his 'advisors' have in the run-up to it." The decision to postpone the docu-series "was a spineless reaction." They "should not have capitulated." Raissman: "Why bother caving? We wanted to see Sam go ahead with the OWN documentary" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/18). In DC, Cindy Boren wrote in the "quiet battle" between the NFL and OWN, "score one for the footballers." It is a "shame, because Sam's story is fascinating and, if he makes the final 53-man roster, the story will be even more historic and inspirational." But he "has to make the team" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/18). ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said, "I don’t know that this has to have been a distraction. I don’t know that this was such a terrible thing. I think largely, the negative reaction to it was, at least in my opinion, a little overdone” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 5/19). NFL Network's Heath Evans said, "I can chalk this up to rookie ignorance. ... But his representatives, I almost don’t even want to mention their names on-air because I don’t want to give them any publicity. If I was Michael Sam, I would fire them today" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 5/16).
NEW DEMO? The AP's David Crary noted Sam getting drafted has made gay NFL fans "more enthusiastic and already is drawing newcomers into the fold." The NFL said that it "hasn't done any marketing research to gauge the size of its gay and lesbian fan base." Reputation.com Vice Chair Howard Bragman, a PR expert who has been working with Sam, said, "The first time he plays, you're going to have huge numbers watching" (AP, 5/17).
