Jerome Messam, Collin Klein Among Montreal Alouettes First Cuts

The Montreal Alouettes, and every other Canadian Football League team, had to get their roster down to 65 players (excluding non-counters) by midnight this morning and among their eight cuts were some notable names.

Running back Jerome Messam, a former Best Canadian Player and former Heisman trophy nominee quarterback Collin Klein were among those released. Former University of Sherbrooke wide receiver Ismael Bamba was also released.

The other players cut were offensive lineman Charles Goodwin, receiver Jheranie Boyd, running back Robert Godhigh, defensive lineman C.J. James and linebacker Stephon Robertson.

The CFL roster is now at over 65 players because players on the injured list (the Alouettes added Pascal Baillargeon and Bear Woods to the six-game list) and due to the non-counting players which include, among others, 2014 Draft Picks and other Canadian players in their first professional training camp.

The Alouettes aren’t expected to make any more cuts before their final pre-season game on Friday against the Ottawa RedBlacks at Molson Stadium. There are still a bunch of major players out with minor injuries so many players should be able to try and make their mark in front of new head coach Tom Higgins.

After being released, Messam took to Twitter to thank the team and his teammates.

Messam, 29, was the 2011 Most Outstanding Canadian when he became the first Canadian back to rush for over 1000 yards since 2001 with the Edmonton Eskimos. He then went to training camp with the Miami Dolphins. After being released by Miami, he rejoined a busy Edmonton backfield and was relegated to a back-up role.

After that, he joined the Alouettes for the 2013 season. He was listed as a full back on the depth chart for their game against Hamilton. The Alouettes have Steven Lumbala, Jean-Christophe Beaulieu, Martin Bedard and MacKenzie Sarro as non-import running backs still on the roster.