The Miami Dolphins are once again scouring the Canadian Football League, looking for players to add to the roster. They appear close to competing a deal with Edmonton Eskimos running back Jerome Messam, adding depth to the running back position.
Messam is the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Player, given to the best native Canadian each year. Messam rushed for 1,057 yards and six touchdowns this past season in Edmonton, becoming just the third Canadian rusher since 1965 to rush for over 1,000 yards.
According to an Edmonton Journal report, Messam agreed to the deal last night.
"Yes, it's true. Jeff Ireland (Dolphins general manager) phoned me late afternoon and said they had decided to offer Jerome a contract, but their proposal would not include a signing bonus," Edmonton Eskimos General Manager Eric Tillman said.
"We weren't positive that proposal would be accepted, but in the past couple of hours, Darren Gill, Jerome's agent, confirmed they had discussed the situation and would be accepting the offer from Miami.
"Obviously, Jerome departs with our best wishes and our focus immediately shifts to free agency as a terrific opportunity to improve our club in the coming days."
Messam's playing is similar to Dolphins' restricted free agent Lex Hilliard. Hilliard was utilized as a short yardage rusher and a fullback by Miami this year, and the 6-foot, 3-inch, 245 pound Messam could fill that role if MIami does not re-sign Hilliard.
Messam does have a troubled, off-the-field reputation, including an incident where he broke a teammate's jaw in a locker room fist fight. He has been suspended by the CFL on two separate occasions.
Adding Messam to the roster would bring the Dolphins' depth chart to four at the running back position. Currently, the Dolphins have starting running back Reggie Bush, backup Daniel Thomas, who just completed his rookie season, and Richard Medlin, who spent the majority of the 2011 season on the practice squad, before being activated near the end of the year to provide depth at the position.
The Dolphins have previously signed starting outside linebacker Cameron Wake from the CFL, as well as signing Marcus Thigpen earlier this offseason to a futures contract.
The deal to bring Messam to Miami is not yet complete, and is still pending Messam passing a physical. He is expected to be offered a contract of around $390,000 for 2012, with no signing bonus.
0 recs | 27 comments
He broke a teammates jaw with a punch.....
….So we know he has some power.
Phinsphana - February 12, 2012
Also how is it possible only 3 people have rushed for a 1,000 yards in the CFL
Is there some rule I don’t know about that limits runs
Phinsphana - February 12, 2012
No he said Canadian to rush for over 1,000. Not people.
texascowpunk - February 12, 2012
That's 990 yds American with the exchange rate.
PhrozenPhish - February 13, 2012
Very pass happy league!
MassFinFan65 - February 13, 2012
They have plenty of 1,000+ yard rushers. Its just that most are American born players.
texascowpunk - February 13, 2012
seems worth the risk... minimum pay!
MassFinFan65 - February 13, 2012
There was no signing bonus so its a good deal for the Phins if he works out and no loss financially if he does not.
texascowpunk - February 13, 2012
mis read or wrote
only 3 Canadian born players have rushed for 1000 yards in a season, these are what we can non imports, must have a certain ratio of imports and non imports. A large part of CFL running backs are small scat backs aka sporles type. speed and finesse, to rush 1000 yards in the CFL as a big power back is no small feet. Phins are getting a very good player here. I was wondering if anyone was going to pick Messum up. He is much better then Hillard. I would put him with Jacobs type potential, only he will run through you not juke.
Canadianphin - February 13, 2012
Looking at him on the youtube highlight video's he looks like he has some real talent....
Dolphinator - February 12, 2012
CFL
One thing many American’s don’t realize is that over half of the players in the CFL are from the USA…Messam is a Canadian and Cam Wake is American. I live in Canada myself so it would be great to see another Canadian make it to the NFL. There’s some decent Canadian’s in the NFL that people may not have known they’re from here…Austin Collie, OJ Atogwe, Danny Watkins, Nate Burleson, Orlando Franklin, Israel Idonije, Shane Suisham, Jon Ryan to name a few….
Drumzan - February 12, 2012
I don't know how to assess this move
The RB position is crowded in Miami. Bush and Thomas sit atop the depth chart, Hilliard and Slaton are FAs but I would have liked to see another year of Slaton, because he was always reasonably productive when given little time. Hilliard may be expendable and maybe this signing targets exactely that spot but I woulnd’t dare to say. I don’t know anything about the receiving skills of this guy, maybe he could be another FB/H-Back/TE hybrid like Charles Clay but …. why double up after what Clay showed this year? so I don’t know what to think exactely.
After all, seen the absence of a signing bonus, it could be that the FO sees this as a pure camp-fodder, take a flyer, move.
Anyway, I wish this guy a prosperous NFL career.
toscana jones - February 13, 2012
I am going on record
If he makes the team, I will buy his jersey. If he succeeds I look smart, if he doesn’t then atleast I will be able to write about a jersey I regret the next time there is a post like the one earlier
Phinsphana - February 12, 2012
LOL If you really wanted to be ballsy you would go make a custom one now with his name and assumed number on it.
texascowpunk - February 12, 2012
He wears 23
Does anyone on our team wear 23 since Ronnie left
Phinsphana - February 12, 2012
I don't know.
texascowpunk - February 12, 2012
Steve Slaton was #23 last season
So, going into the year, no.
Kevin Nogle - February 12, 2012
Well then we know the number I am gonna get
If he doesn’t wear 23 and becomes a star. I will be so pissed
Phinsphana - February 12, 2012
Dude dont really do it. Too much of a risk at this point.
texascowpunk - February 12, 2012
Wait you're the one who told me to do it
And once someone tells me to do something I do it, despite all lack of logic
Phinsphana - February 12, 2012
LOL That's a terrible life plan sir! That thing that I told you earlier, don't do that thing.
texascowpunk - February 12, 2012
U would fit well in the marine corps with that kind of logic
Weecho85 - February 12, 2012 via Android app
Thats is100% true.
Easiest 5 years of my life, just do what your told and there are no problems.
2nd Gen Phin Fan - February 13, 2012
LOL Yes. Also hello Weecho. How are you brother?
texascowpunk - February 13, 2012
Sir Yes Sir!
Phinsphana - February 13, 2012
Jerome Messam
Messam won’t play fullback I am thinking. At 6’3" and 245 plus running a reported 4.4 40 yard dash, he’ll play RB, and hopefully WR. I am also going to enjoy seeing him run against the Jets and Pats!
tpl - February 13, 2012
I think maybe
they see the possibility of him being the TE threat we need, for really cheap. I don’t know how his hands are (no Alpha-ing), or his blocking ability, but 6’3" 245 pounds in right in the neighborhood. And 4.4 speed would look real good out there if he can come out of a break and get back up to speed quickly. Plus, imagine the nightmare of trying to tackle him in open field if he is used to a crowded LOS and still rushed for a thousand. Good coaching and he could be a monster TE for pennies.
PhinNomenol! - February 13, 2012 via Android app
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