Article content

Dave Dickenson quickly sized up the scrum of reporters in search of an eligible volunteer.

He needs somebody somewhat agile in the wake of his Calgary Stampeders returning to practice this week with a banged-up batch of running backs.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Stamps return to practice with banged-up backfield crew Back to video

But all the head coach saw was …

Too fat …

Too short …

Too old …

And not athletic enough.

“Can you play?” a grinning Dickenson asked the veteran warhorse of the media group, play-by-play man Mark Stephen, after the Stamps two lead running backs — Don Jackson and Terry Williams — saw little or no practise time Tuesday.

“Yeah, we’re beat up (at that position). I think both guys have a chance (to return this week against the B.C. Lions), though, and both guys are working hard in rehab.

“But I really need one of those two to show they’re good to go. They got to push hard and do the right thing.”

Even if the Stampeders wanted to bring Jerome Messam back into the fold, the CFL wouldn’t let them after the veteran Canadian running back was charged Monday with voyeurism, released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and told by the league that it would not register a contract for Messam should any team attempt to sign him.