WINNIPEG -- If the Winnipeg Blue Bombers secondary has its way, Andy Fantuz wont continue where he left off. Justin Tuck Jersey . Fantuz, the CFLs top Canadian and leading receiver last year, will make his season debut Sunday with Saskatchewan after being cut by the Chicago Bears. Upon his release, Fantuz had 10 days to sign with another NFL club, but the veteran slotback cut that short to return to the Riders. "Their whole offence is pretty good so were more concerned about that than one guy coming back," Bombers halfback Alex Suber said Saturday. "Theres the simple fact that hes coming back and everyone else is making a big deal about it, but other than that were just going to play football and do what we do." The Bombers (7-2) will look to rebound from their worst loss of the season, a 27-7 road decision to the Riders (2-7) last week. Saskatchewan went into that game buoyed by the return of Ken Miller to the sidelines after rookie head coach Greg Marshall and offensive co-ordinator Doug Berry were fired Aug. 19. The return of Fantuz will undoubtedly boost the Riders, who hope the native of Chatham, Ont., can regain the form that saw him register 87 catches for 1,380 yards last season, his fifth in the CFL. Fantuz said hes feeling comfortable with the offence after only three days of practice but wouldnt predict how hell perform. "Im just going to do whatever I have to do to help the team win," he said after the Riders arrival. "Its not about individual players on our team. "Were not changing up the offence too much, were just going to go out there and do what we do and spread the ball around. Im just a piece of that puzzle." Winnipeg defensive back Jonathan Hefney said the secondary wont be making changes to adapt to Fantuzs presence. "Weve got DBs who can check anybody on the field," Hefney said. "Not just one person is going to make us change the game plan. "It is what it is, hes back, OK good, were just going to go out and play now." Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant said he and Fantuz are getting back in sync. "Ive been working with him for years prior to him giving the NFL a shot so I feel like the chemistry is still there," Durant said. "We made a couple big plays in practice so its all about translating that over into game day." He did foresee Fantuz being a force right away. "I think he can have a huge impact," Durant said. "Hes always been a big part of what we do and were putting him right back in the same spot that he vacated so I think his presence is going to be felt out there." Winnipeg had just two field goals and a punt single in last weeks loss to Saskatchewan, which snapped a five-game winning streak. The Riders forced four straight Bombers turnovers to end the game. Linebacker Jerrell Freeman had a role in two of the turnovers, forcing a fumble and intercepting Bomber quarterback Alex Brink for a nine-yard return. Freeman also registered seven tackles and a sack and was named the CFLs defensive player of the week as a result. "Theres still a lot of mistakes that I made, things I can correct, a lot of things that the defence as a whole can correct," Freeman said. Freeman expects a hostile, loud crowd will try to hamper that. "Its going to be a lot of energy, a lot of testiness, I guess you could say," said Freeman, who felt the Bombers frustration in the last game. Winnipeg receiver Cory Watson and defensive back Brandon Stewart were ejected from the game for throwing punches, while receiver Greg Carr was penalized for unnecessary roughness for a tackle on Freeman. The CFL later fined the trio, saying Carrs tackle was dangerous. He threw Freeman to the ground headfirst. The Bombers hope the script for Sundays game follows last years Banjo Bowl rematch, which they won 31-2. "I really want the guys to come back focused and respond, and thats been the message all week -- lets respond," Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said. LaPolice added he wasnt keying on Fantuzs addition to the Rider roster. "We try to work our schemes around the personnel and take away peoples strengths," he said. "Andy is a talented receiver, but were more concerned about us executing defensively what we have called." The Bombers defence should be bolstered by the return of hard-hitting linebacker Marcellus Bowman, who missed two games with a foot injury. NOTES: More than 30,000 fans will fill Canad Inns Stadium, which has kept extra stands up for what will be the fourth straight sellout. Howie Long Jersey . The 2010 NL MVP missed his third straight game Sunday because of a left knee injury. Manager Bryan Price said after the 8-3 loss to the Phillies that "we dont want to DL him and find out in two or three days hes ready to play. Matt Schaub Jersey . Price pitched a five-hitter for his third complete game of the season, Wil Myers had a two-run single, and the surging Tampa Bay Rays won for the 19th time in 22 games by beating the Boston Red Sox 5-1 on Wednesday night.The Toronto Raptors thrilling win over the Brooklyn Nets last night has broken the teams all-time television record, as overnight data from BBM Canada confirms the game attracted an average audience of 1 million viewers to TSN from tip-off to final buzzer – making it the single most-watched Raptors game ever. Audience levels peaked at more than 2 million viewers late in the fourth quarter as the Raptors secured their 115-113 victory. Game 5 was the #1 sports program on Canadian television yesterday, ahead of three Game 7s in the NHL Playoffs. The Raptors continue to captivate viewers in their hometown market, as Game 5 was the most-watched program of the day in the Greater Toronto Area, and achieved a 21.9 per cent share. In total, 4 million unique viewers tuned in to watch Kyle Lowrys 36-point performance in a heart-stopping game that sees the Raptors now just one win away from a trip to the Second Round. Overall, the Raptors First Round NBA PLAYOFFS series against the Brooklyn Nets on TSN has attracted a total audience reach of more than 7 million unique viewers through the first five games. The Road to 1 Million The five Raptors games that have held the title of most-watched ever:• Nov. 3, 1995 – Raptors inaugural game vs. Nets – 580,000• Dec. Stefen Wisniewski Womens Jersey. 10, 1995 – Raptors vs. Grizzlies (first NBA game between two Canadian teams) – 605,000• May 6, 2001 – After defeating the New York Knicks for their first playoff series win, Raptors beat Philadelphia in Game 1 of the Second Round – 819,000• May 20, 2001 – Two weeks later, Raptors lose Game 7 of the Second Round series vs. Philadelphia (Vince Carter misses the winning shot at the buzzer) – 916,000• April 30, 2014 – Raptors take 3-2 series lead in First Round vs. Nets – 1,003,000 The Raptors on TSNCanadians can continue to follow the Raptors on Canadas Sports Leader throughout the First Round of the NBA PLAYOFFS. Live coverage continues tomorrow (Friday, May 2) with the Raptors looking for the clinching victory in Game 6: Toronto @ Brooklyn at 7 p.m. ET on TSN, TSN GO, and TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto. The broadcast schedule for Games 6 & 7 is as follows**:• Game 6: Toronto @ Brooklyn – Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. ET on TSN • Game 7: Brooklyn @ Toronto – Sunday, May 4 at TBD (if necessary) TSNs complete NBA post-season coverage, which includes the NBA FINALS, is available for live streaming on TSN GO. ' ' '
