Fred Chartrand/CFL.ca
CALGARY — According to a report from the Calgary Herald‘s Danny Austin, the Calgary Stampeders have advised national running back Jerome Messam to test free agency.
The 32-year-old running back from Brampton, Ont. is eligible to become a free agent on Feb. 13.
“We told Jerome ‘go into free agency, see what’s out there and then call us, if they’d like to’,” Stamps general manager John Hufnagel told Austin, according to a tweet Austin sent out Thursday afternoon.
Messam has been the Stamps’ bell cow back ever since being acquired at the trade deadline late in the 2015 season. He’s appeared in back-to-back Grey Cups, most recently earning Most Valuable Canadian honours after scoring two touchdowns in a loss to the Toronto Argonauts last November.
A 6-foot-3, 255-pound power back who’s been in the league since 2010, when he broke into the CFL with the BC Lions, Messam has hit the 1,000-yard plateau in back-to-back seasons, rushing for 20 touchdowns in the process.
Messam is ranked 25th on CFL.ca’s list of the top 30 pending free agents.
A departure for the Stamps’ leading running back would continue what’s resembled somewhat of a youth movement for Hufnagel’s club. The team has focused on bringing back young core members like Kamar Jorden, Ciante Evans and Ja’Gared Davis, while recently parting ways with 10-year veteran Charleston Hughes.
According to Austin, Jamar Wall has signed an extension and an announcement is expected soon. The Stamps also say conversations with Tommie Campbell are ongoing.
