Andy Fantuz Signs With the Hamilton Tiger Cats

Andy Fantuz, one year removed from being the CFL’s leading receiver and most outstanding Canadian, has signed a contract with the Hamilton Tiger Cats.

Although many of the CFL’s biggest free agents were swept up Wednesday on the league’s opening day of free agency, the signing of Andy Fantuz was delayed, partly because he was on vacation in Africa.

In an official release by the Hamilton Tiger Cats, Fantuz had this to say, “I’m coming home. After a very difficult deliberation process, the opportunity to play for my local team, in front of family and friends, was impossible to refuse. While Rider Pride will always be a part of me, it’s time to head to Tigertown. Hamilton has a great tradition of football excellence and I am thrilled be a part of a team that will immediately challenge for a Grey Cup.”

According to Hamilton owner Bob Young’s Twitter account, the fact that Fantuz was in Africa currently, didn’t stop his team from pursuing the highly sought after Chatham, Ontario product,

“Andy Fantuz is on vacation in Africa, Always wanted to go on Safari to bag a big Cat,” said Young.

The move back to Ontario is no surprise for those who know Fantuz, as the big slotback was raised in Chatham-Kent, attended University in London at Western University, and still spends his summers in Southwestern Ontario.

Last season, Fantuz signed an offseason contract with the Chicago Bears, before being released by the team midway through the preseason. Fantuz quickly returned to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team with whom he won the 2007 Grey Cup, and was named the league’s most outstanding Canadian in 2010. His season however, was cut short due to a variety of injury problems.

Other teams rumoured to be in the hunt for Fantuz included the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, while his former Saskatchewan Roughriders, were self-admittedly not players in the dealings.

Although terms of the deal were not fully disclosed, it was rumoured prior to the signing that any deal would require roughly $200,000 annually to secure Fantuz’s services.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders made a serious last minute push for Fantuz, with General Manager Brendan Taman reportedly having breakfast with Andy Fantuz’s agent Tim Fleiszer Thursday morning, however the push was not enough, as Fantuz eventually made the decision to move East to Hamilton.