Michael Sam has decided to stop playing football at this time. The Montreal Alouettes player, the first openly gay active player in the NFL, cited concerns about his mental health. The Alouettes placed Sam on the reserve-suspended list. Sam is a former Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Missouri, a St. Louis Rams seventh-round draft pick and a Dallas Cowboys practice squad member. "The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health," Sam wrote on Twitter. "Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon. Thank you all for your understanding and support." Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle