NO TRUTH TO RUMOUR !!!

By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostAugust 20, 2009


MONTREAL — Ken Miller was quick to put to rest the rumours about the Saskatchewan Roughriders trading slotback Andy Fantuz.

"There is absolutely no truth to that rumour," the Riders' head coach said Thursday after arriving in Montreal for today's game against the Montreal Alouettes. "Why would we trade away one of our key players? It doesn't make any sense to me that there would be a rumour in that regard. If there is, I certainly don't know about it."

It's not known where the rumours started but they are likely based on the fact that Fantuz is in the option year of a three-deal with the Riders. If he doesn't re-sign he would be eligible to test free agency on Feb. 16. That's a scenario that Riders quarterback Darian Durant doesn't want to consider.

"I want to be wherever Andy is," said Durant, who is scheduled to start Friday against the 6-1 Alouettes. "He's my guy. He's a great receiver and I hope I can play with him through my career and his."

The Riders have sent a multi-year contract proposal to Fantuz's Atlanta-based agents, Hadley Engelhard and Jim Ulrich. Miller said that that general manager Eric Tillman, who is on paid administrative leave, is dealing with those negotiations. It's not known if Fantuz has seen the contract offer.

It's also believed that Tillman wanted to deal with the contract negotiations during the bye week, which starts for the Riders after Friday's game. That process has been accelerated by the persistent trade rumours.

Even now, the negotiations with Fantuz are still in their preliminary stages. Durant said Thursday that he talked to Fantuz before meeting with the media at the Olympic Stadium.
"He didn't say what he's going to do," Durant said. "He did say it was a long process and you can't go into it making any quick decisions. He wants to think it through and weigh his pros and cons."
Fantuz didn't make the trip to Montreal because he's sidelined for the fourth game with an injured left hamstring. Fantuz has been limited by injuries the last two seasons. In 2008, he was limited to seven games after suffering a broken left leg. This season, he has 15 receptions for 219 yards and a touchdown.

Those injures haven't diminished the value of Fantuz, at least in Miller's mind. Miller laughed when asked what the Riders might get in return for Fantuz, who has 2,093 yards and 14 touchdowns on 137 receptions in his CFL career.

"Maybe Montreal's defence?" Miller said.

Miller did get serious when asked about the possibility of Fantuz not being part of the Riders.

"To say the Saskatchewan Roughriders and not have a few of our key players, particularly Andy, would be wrong if those names weren't related," said Miller.

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com
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