Michael Sam participated in the first National Football League veteran combine on Sunday at the Arizona Cardinals practice facility, and the former Missouri standout believes he will play in the league this season.

Sam, who became the first openly gay player to be drafted in the league when he was picked by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round last year, did not impress as he clocked a personal best 5.07 in the 40-yard dash.

NFL director of football development Matt Birk, who called the combine a chance for veterans to fight for their lives, also told Fox Sports that Sam's performance in the combine was "marginal" on Sunday morning.

But while he failed to impress, Sam remains confident that he will sign with an NFL team this season. Sam said that he has been working out in California over the past several weeks in the hope of finally making it into the league.

"I am very confident that I will be playing football this year somewhere," Sam said. "So we'll leave that at that."

The 24-year-old former SEC co-defensive player of the year also added that he is open to signing with any team this season, and will also consider returning to the Dallas Cowboys and Rams if he gets an invitation again.

Sam was one of the final cuts by the Rams before last season. After he was cut from the roster, he was invited to become a part of the Cowboys' practice squad, but Dallas also released him in October.

"I'll play for whoever," Sam said. "If the Rams or Cowboys want me back, I will go there on the first flight out."

Sam also added that he feels he possesses improve fundamentals such as better hands and footwork compared to last year after gaining experience from the Rams and Cowboys.

In the event he fails to get a contract from an NFL team this season, he said he will consider playing in the Canadian Football League but will continue chasing his dream to play in the NFL.

"As long as I still have that will, as long as I'm still healthy and can play this game, you will continue to see me fighting to get in this league," said the free-agent defensive end.

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