Fred Chartrand/CFL.ca
The airplane that flew the Calgary Stampeders to Ottawa this week had a large polar bear on his tail. Rather fitting considering running back Jerome Messam has been grumpy as a bear lately.
For most of this season the bruising back was approachable and professional. Storm clouds began to gather in the days leading up to the Western Final against the Edmonton Eskimos.
Messam didn’t like some of the questions he faced from the media. He was frustrated that the CFL on TSN panel named him the third-best running back in the playoffs. He did appreciate head coach Dave Dickenson telling him he needed to prove during practice he was healthy enough to play against the Eskimos.
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It was a cool, collected Messam that greeted reporters on Tuesday at the airport in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press photo)
Messam managed a small smile Tuesday when asked if his mood was improving.
“I’m a highly emotional guy,” he said as the Stampeders prepared to face the Toronto Argonauts in Sunday’s 105th Grey Cup presented by Shaw. “I play with a lot of emotions. Sometimes that comes out.
“For me, I deal with the criticism as it comes. I know I’m going to go out there and compete and do my best.”
Messam played 17 games this year, finishing third in the rushing race with 1,016 yards from a league-high 215 carries. That was about 182 yards less than the previous season when he was the CFL rushing champion. His 4.7-yard average was also the lowest among the league’s top-10 rushers.
At six-foot-three and 254-pounds Messam can be a defensive player’s nightmare. Once he hits full speed, tackling him can be like stepping in front of a speeding car.
“He’s a big-bodied back,” said Toronto linebacker Bear Woods. “The goal is to try to get to him before he does get by the first line of defence.”
The 32-year-old Toronto native looked to have lost as step as the season progressed. Still feeling the effects of off-season knee surgery, he averaged just over 29 yards in the final four games he played.
“It’s different every year,” said Messam. “There are highs and there are lows. Our offence kind of struggled a bit late in the season but I don’t think that can be contributed to any one person or any one group. We just have to get back together and play stampeder football.”
Messam swatted away some of the questions about his health in Calgary’s 32-28 win over Edmonton in the playoff game. He ran for 71 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, plus made four catches for 44 yards.
Dickenson said Messam rose to the challenge.
“I believe the running back position is the toughest one to maintain when you are in your 30’s,” he said. “I think it’s a young man’s game. You take a pounding, you’re getting a lot of carries, a lot of catches. For Jerome to be doing what he’s doing at this age I think is a tribute to him.
“He’s wasn’t the focal or featured guy earlier in his career, but we’ve been giving him a lot of touches and he gets a lot of work in our offence. I do think ultimately, he was a little worn down. He’s been fighting an injury for most of the season. It didn’t look like he had that same jump at the end of the year. It was concerning to me. We challenged him. He definitely rose to that challenge, gave me everything he had and had a great performance last week.”
Messam shrugged off the talk of age.
“Age is just a number,” he said. “It’s all about how your body feels. I have a lot of football left.”
Messam broke the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the third time in his career this season. (Fred Chartrand/CFL.ca)
Running against Toronto won’t be easy. The Argonauts (9-9) allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league and gave up just six running plays of 20 yards or more all season.
“I trust our system, I trust our offensive line,” said Messam. “If they do their jobs it makes my job that much easier.”
Last November Messam was all smiles in the days leading up to Calgary’s showdown with the Ottawa REDBLACKS. He had plenty of reason to be happy.
The CFL nomad, who had played for four teams and had a stint in the NFL during his first six years in the league, looked to have finally found a home in Calgary. He led the league with 1,198 yards on 206 carries and was named the league’s most outstanding Canadian and was a CFL All-Star.
The good-guy persona disappeared in the aftermath of the Stampeders 39-33 overtime loss to Ottawa. While quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell stopped to watch the REDBLACKS’ celebration, Messam quickly exited the field and was one of the first players out of the Calgary dressing room.
“It’s an ugly feeling,” he said about losing in his hometown. “It was like a nightmare, I had to deal with it for a long time after that.”
Messam’s long winter of discontent was brightened somewhat by the birth of his daughter Jaia on Christmas day.
During his career Messam has accomplished a lot but has never won a championship. Getting a second chance to win his first Grey Cup ring has strengthened his determination and sharpened his focus.
“It’s a big driving force for me,” he said. “I have been doing this for a long time, trying to put that stamp on my career, being a champion. I just feel blessed to be back here and have another opportunity.”
