Pat Steinberg
CFL.ca
When CFL free agency opened last week, there was one unquestioned prize everyone was watching, as we all wondered what would happen with Andy Fantuz.
As we’ll explore in this free agency edition of MMQB, Fantuz plays into the continued culture change in Hamilton while last year’s two non-playoff teams weren’t willing to stand pat either.
Culture of winning
When Hamilton finally did what was expected and signed Fantuz to his three year contract, my immediate reaction was to cringe. My cringing had nothing to do with the quality of player Fantuz is, as the 2010 Most Outstanding Canadian is still an impact player in this league.
Instead, my cringing had to do with the recent history of Tiger-Cat big spending. We all remember the experiments that were Casey Printers and Kenton Keith, and we all remember how neither of them worked out. Big time free agency hasn’t worked out very well in Hamilton in recent years, and yet my cringing subsided very quickly once I really started to analyze the situation.
First, we’re talking about a 28-year old receiver who is still very much in his CFL prime. Andy Fantuz isn’t donning the black and yellow as a past-his-prime former superstar trying to cash in on one more payday. He’s coming back to southern Ontario to play professional football close to home, while also hoping to push a team over the hump.
I don’t really see how Fantuz can flop in Hamilton, the same way I don’t think he could have flopped had he stayed in Saskatchewan or signed anywhere else. He’s a quality receiver who can still make a large impact.
So that got me thinking even deeper. The Tiger-Cats have really started to distance themselves from the lean years of just a few seasons ago, putting nightmare season after nightmare season together.
Now with three straight playoff appearances under their belt, Hamilton finally has a playoff win to build on after their thrilling win over Montreal this past season. And now they’re not willing to rest on their laurels to try and improve upon that.
The signing of Fantuz comes a few weeks after Hamilton’s big trade with Calgary to acquire quarterback Henry Burris. While Hank isn’t quite in his prime years anymore, many who cover this league (including myself) believe Burris is still a very capable quarterback.
While the move to Drew Tate was probably the right one in Calgary, it doesn’t mean Burris can’t still run an offence in this league, as his August Offensive Player of the Month nod would suggest. Just like Fantuz, Burris is an impact player with a Grey Cup ring earned in the past five seasons.
With the Tiger-Cats going out and acquiring Burris, they showed that winning was something they weren’t just wanting to flirt with. The big money signing of Fantuz showed us all that a berth in the Eastern Final was just a start to where they want to go. I’m not saying Hamilton will win the Grey Cup this year, but it sure is good to see a proud franchise committed to winning once again.
Reunited and it feels so good
There were two large quarterback moves made this off-season, and it was Toronto who got the whole thing started when they shocked many by bringing in Ricky Ray from Edmonton. I don’t think it was all that much of a surprise to see the Argos try and upgrade the position, as the situation over the last two seasons was anything but solid.
However, for them to go out and land a fish that wasn’t necessarily in the open water was a bit of a surprise. However, with Ray joining the fold, the big question still remained: will Toronto finally go out and acquire a number one receiver?
That question was answered as free agency opened with Toronto signing Jason Barnes, giving Ray a familiar target in his first season in double blue. Barnes caught seven touchdown passes from Ray last year in Edmonton, as the pair combined for 50 receptions in green and gold during the 2011 season. Bringing Barnes in would have been a smart move regardless, as the Argos have been craving a top pass catching threat for years. However, bringing in a number one receiver with intimate knowledge of the man throwing to him is even better.
“Jason Barnes is a legitimate receiving threat with size and experience in the CFL,” said new head coach Scott Milanovich. “We believe he is just beginning to realize his potential and will continue to get better. His chemistry with Ricky is obviously another positive as we continue to add weapons for 2012.”
To be perfectly honest, I was a little floored Eric Tillman didn’t elect to retain the services of Barnes in Edmonton. I know they are going through a transition, as the decision to deal away Ray would suggest, but keeping Barnes in the fold seemed only natural.
Barnes and Fred Stamps formed one of the CFL’s two most dangerous receiving threats during the 2011 season, and had they have both been healthy a whole season, who knows how they would have compared to Montreal’s Jamel Richardson and S.J. Green.
Focused
Seeing the Roughriders making a big splash in free agency surprised absolutely no one with the team coming off their nightmare 2011 campaign. However, seeing their focus be as concentrated as it was maybe a little unexpected. But only slightly.
Thursday saw Saskatchewan immediately upgrade their offensive line with the signings of Brendon LaBatte and Dominic Picard. The situation sets up perfectly for both players, as LaBatte is able to continue wreaking havoc at guard with Picard being signed on the same day.
LaBatte is able to snap the ball too, but prefers teeing off on linemen at guard, something he’ll be able to do with his hometown Riders.
The moves make sense with Darian Durant coming off a year criticized by man. Saskatchewan’s quarterback was a victim of his own mistakes on an all-too-frequent basis last season, but he certainly wasn’t helped by an inconsistent group in front of him.
I firmly believe Durant is still a top end pivot in this league, and his head scratching decision making from a year ago is very likely a one year anomaly. With the Riders banking on that to be the case as well, they did the best they could to help him out, making sure his protection is up to snuff for the coming year.
Saskatchewan still has work to do, no question, as offensive line wasn’t the area I had pinpointed as highest priority heading into the off-season. Regardless of the important signings of Picard and LaBatte, this team still needs a quality force on their defensive front.
That may very well end up being Shomari Williams, or maybe the team has their eyes on someone in the Canadian Draft. That said, the lack of any true, consistent Riders pass rush was likely their biggest undoing.
