If there is one theme to this year’s free-agency period, it’s that CFL players value going home over a few extra dollars in their pockets.

Andy Fantuz is the latest to choose location over money, and this time the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the winners. The Chatham, Ont., native spent six seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughrdiers, winning Grey Cup most outstanding Canadian and 2010 CFL most outstanding Canadian awards.

Earlier this off-season, offensive lineman Simeon Rottier went home to Edmonton from Hamilton, and guard Brendon LaBatte chose Saskatchewan over Winnipeg.

During the 2010 season, Fantuz led the CFL with 1,380 receiving yards, which got him a look with the Chicago Bears. The NFL shot didn’t work out well, and his 2011 season was basically a write-off.

The Tiger-Cats haven’t had much recent success with offensive players coming back from the NFL (Kenton Keith and Casey Printers). And the most recent example of a player signing with the Cats as a homecoming didn’t work out either. Kicker Sandro DeAngelis had five great years in Calgary but left for Hamilton in 2010. He is now looking for a job.

Nobody knows how this will work out for Fantuz, but he joins a Ticats team much different than recent years. Henry Burris is the quarterback, so the two former Roughriders will try to develop a chemistry.

“I’m coming home,” Fantuz said in a statement. “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. I look forward to getting to know my new teammates and representing the Tiger-Cats in Southwestern Ontario.”

Only time will tell if the Rider fans treat Fantuz the same way they do Burris, who left in exactly the same way back in 2005. Now that Fantuz is off the market, there is very little intrigue in the free agents left. Here are the signings since the free-agent period opened Wednesday:
OL Glenn January, Winnipeg (Winnipeg)
R Cary Koch, Edmonton (Saskatchewan)
DL Don Oramasionwu, Edmonton (Winnipeg)
DB Paul Woldu, Saskatchewan (Montreal)
LB Jason Pottinger, Toronto (Toronto)
OL Brendon LaBatte, Saskatchewan (Winnipeg)
OL Dominic Picard, Saskatchewan (Toronto)
LB Rod Davis, Montreal (Edmonton)
R Greg Carr, Edmonton (Winnipeg)
DB Byron Parker, B.C. (Toronto)
RB Stu Foord, B.C. (Saskatchewan)
R Andy Fantuz, Hamilton (Saskatchewan)

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CFL schedule released
The CFL scheduled was released Friday morning with a few highlights. The most interesting part is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers going on the road for the first month of the season while their new stadium gets finished.

The Bombers will then have eight of their next 11 games at home, starting with the Edmonton Eskimo July 26. The Labour Day rivalry is back to normal, with the Toronto Argonauts kicking off the first half of the doubleheader followed by Edmonton and Calgary.

The Stampeders have a rough start to the season as well, going to Toronto and Montreal in Weeks 2-3 over a six-day span. Check out the full schedule here.

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Makowsky retires after 17 seasons
After the Saskatchewan Roughriders went out and made a big move in free-agency picking up guard Brendon LaBatte and centre Dominic Picard, it was clear they were saying goodbye to a legend.

Gene Makowsky retired Friday after 17 seasons with the team. The all-time Roughriders leader in games played (284) is one of the most beloved players in team history and will certainly go to the Hall of Fame eventually.

Makowsky, who won back-to-back CFL lineman of the year awards in 2004-05, already has his post-football career in full swing. He was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly last November.

“It’s never an easy decision to make and it was extremely difficult for me,” stated Makowsky. “However I felt that this is the best decision to make for my family, my career and my team.”

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Stamps extend Paredes, add Aussie punter
The Stamps have settled on their kicking situation for the 2012 season. Placekicker Rene Paredes had his contract extended Friday, while the team also added Australian punter Scott Crough (pronounced Crow).

If Crough makes the team, he would likely be the first Aussie to play in the CFL. He grew up playing Australian Rules Football and at age 31 is excited at the prospects of living in Canada full-time. Crough will compete with former first-round pick Rob Maver to be the team’s punter.

— Buz