EDMONTON — Jerome Messam’s path to the Miami Dolphins has hit a snag, according to the Edmonton Eskimos.

While Messam is working out a deal to join the National Football League team, reports of the running back taking a deal without a signing bonus weren’t accurate, Eskimos vice-president of communications Dave Jamieson said on Sunday morning.

“It is premature to say that he signed,” Jamieson said. “He has not officially signed with the Miami Dolphins. I think there is work to do on the bonus.”

Eskimos general manager Eric Tillman confirmed rumours of Messam’s signing with the Dolphins on Saturday night, saying that Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland had contacted him with the details of the deal.

“Yes, it’s true. Jeff Ireland phoned me late (Saturday) afternoon and said they had decided to offer Jerome a contract, but their proposal would not include a signing bonus,” Tillman had 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.”

Reports suggesting that Messam hadn’t yet signed began to surface Sunday morning.

Messam came to the Eskimos at the end of training camp in 2011 in a giveaway of a trade with the B.C. Lions, where he had worn out his welcome. Tillman gave up a fifth-round pick in the 2013 CFL draft for Messam, who appeared to come with his share of baggage.

The 26-year-old had violated team policy during Lions training camp, forcing the trade and had gotten in a fist fight with then-teammate Paris Jackson in the 2010 season, cracking Jackson’s jaw.

Also in 2010, he pleaded guilty to his involvement in an altercation in a London, Ont., nightclub that cost him a suspended sentence and a $250 fine.

Messam stayed out of trouble in his season with the Eskimos and put together a brilliant campaign that saw him become the first Canadian running back in 12 years to break the 1,000-yard rushing mark. The six-foot-three, 245-pound Toronto product ran for 1,057 yards in 18 games, scoring six touchdowns. He had four games where he rushed for over 100 yards and had a season-best 139-yard, two-touchdown game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a 38-23 win on Sept. 16.

His season came to a premature end in the West Division semifinal, when he tore his meniscus. He had the knee surgically repaired shortly after and visited Miami this week to meet with the Dolphins.

Messam was the CFL’s most outstanding Canadian in 2011 and was named a West Division all-star and a CFL all-star.

Edmonton Journal

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