Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell is adamant that Michael Sam's sexual orientation has nothing to do with his failure to make it onto a NFL roster for the 2014 season.
Sam, who became the first openly gay player in the league when he was drafted by the St Louis Rams in May, was released by the club as part of their roster cutdown on Saturday.
However, the 24-year-old also missed out on earning a place on their 10-man practice squad, and failed to catch on elsewhere despite a decent showing in pre-season.
"I doubt that seriously," Caldwell told reporters. "He wasn't here on our squad, we didn't play against [the Rams) to have an opportunity to look at them.
"But what I would assume is the case is the fact that he doesn't fit in with whomever's system, or anybody's system right now in terms of being able to come in and play for them at this point in time. If he could, if it benefits someone, and he still may.
"A lot of things happen here in the next three or four days, anyway. But he still may, he may still get that opportunity."
Sam recorded 111 tackles, 18.5 sacks and two interceptions in his four years with the Missouri Tigers in the college game.
Simon Sinclair
