Is Michael Sam a marketing ploy for the Dallas Cowboys?

ESPN had a very interesting piece about the possibility that the Dallas Cowboys signed on Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player, as way to market the team's brand and to keep its name in the news.

Though some football heads are whining about how Sam is always in the news, though in reality he's only been on 6% of all the sports articles written this current year, I can see how this could work.

The team's owner, Jerry Jones, is one clever wise guy and marketing guru whose business plan seems to be to keep winning as many games as possible while at the same time keeping the team's name in the news, with whatever news as long as its eye-catching. Signing an openly gay player to the team, even the practice squad, is no doubt going to turn some heads and most likely bring in new fans (gay and pro-gay ones) which translates to bigger jersey and merchandise sales.

ESPN opines:

Remember, Jerry is a marketing genius who believes every word written or spoken about the Cowboys, positively or negatively, is good for business.  

Jerry's approach is among the reasons the Cowboys have one of the world's most recognizable logos.  

See, to Jerry, a player who keeps the Cowboys in the headlines is as important as a player who helps them win. A player who can do both is invaluable. 

Maybe, the Cowboys' perspective has changed because the defense has the potential to be the worst statistical unit in NFL history. Then again, he could be joining the Cowboys' practice squad because it'll help Jerry sell even more Cowboys' jerseys than he does now.  

After all, Sam's jersey has been among the highest-sellers since the Rams took him in the seventh round. 

The above seems reasonable to me and it goes to show to all the football heads out there that NO, sometimes teams do not make football exclusive decisions only. Sometimes they make political, personal, and in this case, business decisions.