CFL.ca
If you’re a linebacker who Jerome Messam ran over this season, blame me.
If you’re a defensive lineman who had Messam run through your arm tackle, blame me.
I was the dumb dumb who publicly doubted Messam could carry the rock for the Stampeders in 2016. 750 yards I predicted, well back of the league lead.
The fantasy football prediction piece was posted on April 1 and when you hear athletes say they don’t read or listen or watch what is being said about them, don’t believe them. They do, and Jerome Messam definitely did.
He saw it instantly.
“As soon as it went up, man, I was like, ‘wow, this is what they think of me?’”
Oops!
So on Thursday, at media day, I approached the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian. leading rusher and first time Grey Cup participant to address this head on.
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To true Messam style, a smile slowly crept across his face as I brought up the aforementioned piece.
Did he use it as motivation?
No doubt about it.
“I look at that stuff in the off-season and how you guys talk about me kind of sits with me a little bit so it was definitely motivation.”
How many times did he take a look at the screen shot he took of the prediction? Not many but he definitely didn’t forget about it either.
“I just like to prove doubters wrong. That’s not to say you were doubting me or anything, but that’s been a thing of mine for my career.”
And prove the doubters — or in this case, doubter — wrong he did.
Part of my prediction was based on the fact he wouldn’t be able to survive a whole season the way he plays. Messam may be the most prone to big collisions because of his massive frame.
He played all 18 games.
Messam’s play allowed the Stampeders to be a multi-dimensional offence. While Bo Levi Mitchell was throwing for second highest yardage and most touchdown tosses, Messam was the man who kept defences on their heels.
The defense had to respect the run because Messam could gash them for big chunks of yards and if they did try to stop the run, Mitchell would have more than enough time to find open receivers down field.
Messam was vital for a team trying to move on from one of the top Canadian running backs to play in the CFL when Jon Cornish retired.
Calgary didn’t miss a beat.
Jerome Messam holds up his Most Outstanding Canadian honour (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Now, what could he do if I lowered his prediction for next season?
“I don’t know, 2,000-yards maybe?”
For that to happen there may need to be some more doubters for the Stamps’ key player because I’m definitely not doubting the skill and power of Messam.
Depending on Sunday’s game, Messam could become a big factor in the Stampeders winning or losing. Calgary’s ability to run the ball with success and make it a shorter field for his quarterback makes it harder to win for Ottawa.
And if Messam follows up on his Top Canadian award on Thursday with a big game on Sunday?
Ottawa knows who to blame.
