Dolphins sign CFL running back

[Landshark]

Jerome Messam of the Edmonton Eskimos.  He's a 6'3 245 lbs bruiser.  If he makes it, the question is, what happens to Daniel Thomas?

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Messam+signs+with+Dolphins/6140192/story.html

[MikeO]

Jerome Messam of the Edmonton Eskimos.  He's a 6'3 245 lbs bruiser.  If he makes it, the question is, what happens to Daniel Thomas?

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Messam+signs+with+Dolphins/6140192/story.html

nothing, this CFL guy is just adding a body for training camp and this guy is coming off an injury and has had a few off the field issues. They gave him NO signing bonus which tells you how they feel about him. Just a body for camp!

But Thomas is going noplace he still might be the starter come week 1 in our new offense. Depends on how Philbin/Sherman run the offense. If its a pro style offense with Peyton Manning, then Thomas is the man. If its a west coast style with Flynn, then its Bush. Either way Thomas is going noplace. To early to give up on him, WAY too early

[Cathal]

Why in the world would you give up on Thomas? Yeah, hopefully he won't be as injury prone this year, but when he's played, he's been awesome.

[Fins4ever]

Agree, no way in the world would the Fins give up on DT after 1 yr. Many players were hurt due to the lack of conditioning time. If this guy comes in and blows the doors off, it would be Hilliard the odd man out, not DT or Bush.

[MikeO]

Teams must carry 4 running backs. Thomas, Bush, and Hillard are going no place. In fact don't be shocked to see Miami draft one or sign somebody (not counting this CFL guy) as a free agent. Bush is entering the final year of his contract. Gotta prepare for the future.  Plus Bush is injury prone and Thomas had nagging injuries all last year, gotta have depth at this position with those 2 at the top of the depth chart

[Landshark]

You guys do realize that he's not just another "training camp body".  This guy was the top back in the CFL this past season.  Maybe this is what he's capable of if he straightens himself out.  You never know.  He could end up being another Cameron Wake.

[Fins4ever]

I don't see him as training camp fodder at all. I have seen conflicting reports. Are you sure he is signed?  As I said before, I think Hilliard could be the guy they are looking to replace. The question you ask yourself, is one of the CFL's best better than an average NFL player???

Ike did not have a good year. I would be looking for an upgrade as well. We need a bulldozer on 3rd and short or 4th and goal at the 1. Ike ain't it.

[MikeO]

I don't see him as training camp fodder at all. I have seen conflicting reports. Are you sure he is signed?  As I said before, I think Hilliard could be the guy they are looking to replace. The question you ask yourself, is one of the CFL's best better than an average NFL player???

Ike did not have a good year. I would be looking for an upgrade as well. We need a bulldozer on 3rd and short or 4th and goal at the 1. Ike ain't it.

He hasn't put pen to paper yet technically. So there are mixed reports out there about him signing. But the fact they didn't give him a signing bonus tells you all you need to know. He ain't Cam Wake. Who was a sure fire NFL player from the CFL who had multiple teams after him. This kid is just a body for camp who they have invested nothing in. Literally nothing.

[Landshark]

He hasn't put pen to paper yet technically. So there are mixed reports out there about him signing. But the fact they didn't give him a signing bonus tells you all you need to know. He ain't Cam Wake. Who was a sure fire NFL player from the CFL who had multiple teams after him. This kid is just a body for camp who they have invested nothing in. Literally nothing.

I disagree here.  Jerome Messam can help this team with the short yardage and blocking role schematics in this new offense.   He's got some great size and knows how to use it.  I agree that there are no guarantees but he is more than just a training camp body.  He probably will replace Lex Hilliard.  I'm looking at it as depth with upside.

[MikeO]

I disagree here.  Jerome Messam can help this team with the short yardage and blocking role schematics in this new offense.   He's got some great size and knows how to use it.  I agree that there are no guarantees but he is more than just a training camp body.  He probably will replace Lex Hilliard.  I'm looking at it as depth with upside.

You are way ahead of yourself. They didn't even give this CFL kid a signing bonus. That's how little they think of him. And they can not give him a signing bonus because nobody else wants him or is considering him. And you got him unseating a starting FB in Hillard. It's just not gonna happen.

He is a training camp body, nothing more. If he makes it past the 1st round of cuts I will be shocked honestly. Miami signed 8 guys two weeks ago, once again more training camp bodies. Once again that's what this time of year is. They are kicking tires on guys and rolling the dice.

[el diablo]

There's always that chance of finding a diamond in the rough. He has good size to counter Bush's lack of size. The lack of a signing bonus doesn't mean anything. He hasn't played in the NFL yet. Him signing without a bonus, means he's hungry for the opportunity.

[MikeO]

There's always that chance of finding a diamond in the rough. He has good size to counter Bush's lack of size. The lack of a signing bonus doesn't mean anything. He hasn't played in the NFL yet. Him signing without a bonus, means he's hungry for the opportunity.

Not offering a bonus also says the Fins didn't fear him going anyplace else or were worried if he stayed in Canada and told the Fins no. That's the point. They gave him the lowest of low offers they could possibly offer. Hence, he is a body for training camp who you hope pans out in some way, maybe on special teams as an up-blocker or something. But he is nothing more than a training camp body at this point with a huge uphill battle in front of him.

[Fins4ever]

I disagree here.  Jerome Messam can help this team with the short yardage and blocking role schematics in this new offense.   He's got some great size and knows how to use it.  I agree that there are no guarantees but he is more than just a training camp body.  He probably will replace Lex Hilliard.  I'm looking at it as depth with upside.

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There is no doubt the Fins missed Lou Polite last year and thought Hilliard would be a good replacement. The potential signing tells me they are looking to upgrade the position. Did Ike play ST's?

[EKnight]

How good is this guy? All I can find is that he went to North Dakota State College of Science and that he apparently is the first RB to crack 1000 yards in the CFL since 2000. -EK

[Fins4ever]

How good is this guy? All I can find is that he went to North Dakota State College of Science and that he apparently is the first RB to crack 1000 yards in the CFL since 2000. -EK

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Not much news on JM. Here is some info on the club. Had no idea they have been around since 1949. John Avery played for them as did Warren Moon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_Eskimos