Rick Zamperin
2/21/2012
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats showed off their newest offensive threat today.
Andy Fantuz was officially introduced after signing with the team last Friday as a free agent.
The All-Star slotback says he definitely feels like the Tiger-Cats "have a great shot at the Grey Cup" and would love to beat the Roughriders in the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto.
The Tiger-Cats open the regular season June 29th against Fantuz's former teammates from Saskatchewan.
Fantuz says it was very tough to leave Regina, knowing that it was stable and was a great situation "was very tough to leave."
But Fantuz adds he "always wanted to come back home and get a chance to play in Southwestern Ontario."
Fantuz also added that it is going to be great playing with guys like Dave Stala in the Ticats receiving corps.
In 77 regular season games with the Roughriders, Fantuz has made 289 receptions for 4,311 yards and 23 touchdowns.
His best season came in 2010 when he was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian after catching 87 passes for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns.
He was named a CFL and West Division All-Star and earned recognition as the CFL Canadian Player of the Month three times.
Last year, Fantuz played in four games with the Riders after attending training camp with the NFL's Chicago Bears.
The 28-year-old was selected by the Riders with the third overall pick in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft after a record-setting CIS career at Western.
During his four years with the Mustangs, Fantuz set new CIS and OUA marks for career receiving yards (4,123), single-season receiving yards (1300 in 2002), career receptions (189) and career touchdown receptions (41).
He was the recipient of the Hec Crighton award as the top player in CIS football in 2005.
Click below to listen to excerpts of today's media scrum with Andy Fantuz.
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