National Football Post today had an interesting tidbit, as it talks about the Steelers working out a wide out next week by the name of Andy Fantuz, who plays for the Sasketchewan Roughriders of the CFL. Here’s the story.
CFL star wide receiver Andy Fantuz is generating significant NFL interest and is scheduled to work out for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings next week, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation. The 6-foot-4, 221-pounder plays for the Sasketchewan Roughriders and is the first Canadian to lead the CFL in receiving in several years.
Per our source, the CFL All-Star is going to work out for several NFL teams. This season, he caught 87 passes for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns. For his career, Fantuz has caught 276 passes for 4,136 yards and 23 touchdowns while averaging 15 yards per catch.
Fantuz, 26, was drafted in the first round of the CFL draft with the third overall pick after a standout collegiate career at Western Ontario University.
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DrGeorge
December 11, 2010 at 9:59 am
The attraction here is Fantuz’s height. We are one of the few teams in this pass happy NFL without a surrogate basketball player in the WR corps — someone tall enough to haul in the alley-oop in the end zone. The current NFL rules have turned football, like basketball, into a 3-D game. For the same reason, we are in the market for CBs over 6′. The emphasis on the aerial game has also redefined the way defenses play.
mark
December 11, 2010 at 10:02 am
But why at this point? Who is he replacing and why is he replacing anyone? Is this for next season and he is going on the practice squad this year? It doesnt make too much sense to me. If you are going to look at the CFL for a contributor, how about looking at a Tackle,Cornerback or Guard??
DrGeorge
December 11, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Mark, I have no greater insight into this one than you do. My guess is that he would serve as insurance for the playoff run (a one year deal). In that scenario, he would bump someone on the taxi squad.
Fanutz isn’t God’s gift to football, but he must have usable talents if he is generating interest from some pretty good personnel directors. O-linemen in the Canadian league rarely transition to the NFL successfully, but backs, WRs, and CBs sometimes do.
While it is likely that Sweed and Randel-El won’t be back next year and that Hines Ward will choose to retire, I don’t think Fanutz is being considered for those reasons. And our receivers are sound. Sanders and Brown have played better than expected and contributed earlier than expected, so their spots look safe. Wallace is the envy of the league. So the logic of this look (and it is just a look) seems to be insurance, in case one of our regular WRs would get injured. The Steelers are amazingly prescient about keeping and developing talent on the taxi squad that can step in during a playoff run, if injury requires it.
john fero
December 11, 2010 at 10:59 am
reply to mark when the steelers make a confusing move, think of the words rooney’s cheap. that will clear it up most the time.
The Tony
December 11, 2010 at 11:36 am
Rooney’s cheap? Last time I checked we have a 100 million dollar quarterback
TCM1959
December 12, 2010 at 8:26 am
Rooney’s cheap think about what you just said they OWN… the Pittsburgh Steelers 6 time Super bowl champions be seirious !!!!!
Mike
December 11, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Why are we questioning what the steelers do from a personelle standpoint? Are we that talented of a team that we could not use another good WR? Last i checked 86 is not getting younger. WHo out ther is comfortable with Wallace, Brown and Samuels going into next year as our top 3? Sweed is not a guarentee to make the team. Randle El is our 4th wr now. If we can sign him at a reasonable price, why would we not take a veteran player?
Mike
December 11, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I just watched youtube highlights of this guy. He is a big slow white wide receiver that can’t seperate from DB’s in Canada. How do you think he will do against Revis and others in the NFL. I thought i was watching highlights of Heath Miller. His number is 83 up there and i think that is why…
Sasky
December 15, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Fantuz has been scouted by NFL teams since his first year of university. The Colts and Broncos showed significant interest at that time but he had a major injury that almost cost him his leg before his last season in university. As a result he went off most teams radar and had a try out with the Lions in May 2006. His hands are also second to none in the CFL and while he doesn’t get great separate he still makes the catch in tight coverage and able to make guys miss in tight spaces.
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