Jerome Messam and HC Dave Dickenson claim that Messam does not have a concussion but a neck injury from Micah Awe's savage hit. Whether Messam plays will Sunday will be a game time decision. I wonder if the Stampeders are rushing Messam back and risking shortening his career as appeared to happen with Jon Cornish and his repeated concussions. Messam sure looked woozy after the hit.

Calgary Stampeders running back Jerome Messam says he'll be a game-time decision Sunday against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Canadian Football League's leading rusher took a hard hit to the back of his helmet in the third quarter of in Saturday's 27-13 win over the B.C. Lions. Messam left the game and did not return.
Lions linebacker Micah Awe, who registered the hit, received the league's maximum fine for leading with the crown of his helmet.
"I feel the league took a stance to try and protect players," Messam told reporters Thursday.


http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...787/story.html


Even BC HC Wally Buono is not defending Micah Awe, who has been involved in repeated high hits, despite Awe claiming they were cases of high speed split-second decisions on the collisions.

When Buono played linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes between 1972-1983, players were taught to stick their mask in the opposition player’s numbers, wrap him up and tackle him to the ground. Now, anything involving the head — especially in teaching fundamentals — is avoided because of the possibility of injury and legal implications. It’s now chest to chest and then wrap up the opposing player.“I played at the professional level and when I drop my head, I know I’m dropping my head,” said Buono. “I have an intent.“It’s why the league is so black and white on it. It’s not that you don’t know what you’re doing — you know exactly what you’re doing. You drop your head and target somebody, you have the ability to do that or not do that.”
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/v...82467119074014