Justin Dunk
CFL.ca
Signed and delivered from ‘Supa Duka’. Non-import receiver Andy Fantuz, the most coveted prize of the 2012 CFL free agent class, signed his official his four-year pact with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats while vacationing in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
At a local store in Zanzibar called ‘The Supa Duka’, Fantuz put his autograph on the dotted line, thanks to a printer and scanner in the store, and sent his paper work back to Ticat headquarters in the wee hours of the morning, Eastern Standard Time, on Friday, Feb. 17.
In choosing the Tiger-Cats, Fantuz, the third overall pick in the 2006 CFL Canadian draft, parted ways with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team that drafted him and the place where he developed into one of the premier Canadian receivers in the league.
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| “Coach Cortez is someone I’ve worked with before and I’ve kept in touch with him over the past five years. He’s someone who I’m looking forward to playing for again.” – Andy Fantuz |
“We had initial talks [about signing an extension with the Riders] when I got back from Chicago, there was an initial offer,” Fantuz said. “Then about five months went by and nothing really happened with it. As we got closer and closer [to free agency] we decided to just play it out and see how it went.”
“It seemed like the right time to test free agency. As time went on, the decision to make a switch became more and more clear.”
Fantuz, who played the first six years of his CFL career in Saskatchewan, said he had no problems communicating with his agent Tim Fleiszer through the free agency process, despite being halfway around the world.
In fact, the pair discussed Fantuz’s vacation to Africa beforehand and felt like it might be better to be out of the country, away from the media scrutiny and discussion surrounding his impending decision and make a choice with a clear head.
It was ultimately his heart that he followed. Fantuz’s desire to come east and return to his home province was one he could not turn down.
“That idea of coming home to play finally became realized. It was something I had always thought about, but never really thought I could bring myself to do – leaving Saskatchewan,” Fantuz, the Chatham, Ont. native, said.
“I think the fact of coming home to play in front of my friends and family and in Southwestern Ontario, was probably the single biggest factor,” the University of Western Ontario product said.
“The fact that the organization wanted me in Hamilton – I felt like they made a strong push – and just from talking to them I got a feeling that it was the place for me.”
The Ticats pounced at the opportunity, making a substantial pitch right as the free agent period began until Fantuz signed, to add the six-foot-four 220-pound pass catcher, whose best years could very well be in front of him.
Fantuz is young, just 28, but already has lots of experience, and more importantly winning experience.
He has played in three Grey Cups, winning one with Saskatchewan in 2007 where number 83 was named the top Canadian, catching four balls for 70 yards including what would be the game-winning touchdown, a 29-yard catch, in the fourth quarter during the Riders 23-19 defeat of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“He’s a quality player who has made big plays in big games, and who you can depend on to make the big catch,” Tiger-Cats head coach George Cortez said.
A past relationship also played a role in Fantuz putting pen to paper with the Black and Gold. During his rookie year in 2006 with the Riders, Cortez was calling the plays for the Saskatchewan offence.
“Coach Cortez is someone I’ve worked with before and I’ve kept in touch with him over the past five years. He’s someone who I’m looking forward to playing for again,” Fantuz said.
“I hope [our relationship] was a factor. I’ve always thought a lot of Andy,” Cortez said. “I think the fact that he’s seen what I’ve done offensively through the years, and how we utilize the players, I suspect that played into it even more.”
Fantuz will look to get back to his 2010 form when he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian, after leading the entire league in receiving yardage, recording 87 receptions for 1,380 yards and six majors.
Over his career Fantuz has amassed 289 catches, 4,311 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns.
Totals he will certainly add to from the ‘Y’ position in Cortez’s historically prolific offence. In the scheme of Hamilton’s new offensive attack, the ‘Y’ receiver lines up closest to the quarterback on the wide or strong side of the field.
“As Andy knows, it won’t be the only spot he plays, but that’s probably where he’ll spend a lot of his time,” Cortez said.
“A lot of our passing game runs through that ‘Y’ spot. I’ve had some really good players that have played that spot and I’m sure that he’s seen that and understands how productive it can be.”
Another factor that played into Fantuz’s decision to sign in Hamilton was the momentum the organization has steadily built over the past few seasons. The Ticats have made three-straight playoff appearances, hosting Eastern Semi-Finals in 2009 and 2010, and Hamilton comes off a 2011 season in which they fell just one game short of the CFL’s championship game – not to mention the opening of a brand new stadium in 2014.
“I love the things Hamilton has going on here. The chances to be in the Grey Cup for many years to come and everything that is going on with this organization,” Fantuz said.
“The fact that this team is going to be immediately a team to be reckoned with appealed to me.”
It was never a question of how much money was being offered Fantuz said, but how many?
As in the number of Grey Cups he thought could be captured with whichever franchise he picked to continue his CFL career.
It seems Fantuz felt Hamilton is on their way back towards the glory days of old. And of course he gets the chance to realize his championship aspirations, at home.
