I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it. I just want to own my truth.

I just want to know if I'm truly not in the NFL, it's because of talent. Let it be because of my talents. But you've got to prove that I can't play this game. If you look at the film, clearly I can. So, I'll leave it at that.

Great things happen when you have the courage to be yourself

To anyone out there especially young people feeling like they don't fit in and will never be accepted, please know this, great things can happen when you have the courage to be yourself.

I wish you guys would just say, 'Michael Sam, how's the football going? How's training going?' But it is what it is. And I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player instead of Michael Sam the gay football player.

The players who have reached out to me and told me about their sexual orientation, it just means a lot.

I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it. I just want to own my truth.