The Arizona Cardinals understand the attention on Larry Fitzgerald is high. The wide receiver has referred to the franchise in the past tense as his future with the team is being put into question. Fitzgerald is on the back-half of his career, but is still a threat on the field and intends on getting paid as such. His current contract with the Cardinals meets that qualification, but Arizona cannot afford to keep it on the payroll.
Arizona team president Michael Bidwill told the Cardinals faithful that they need to simply be patient because everyone in the front office is fully prepared for Fitzgerald to be back in 2015. Right now, the two sides are having contract negotiations to alleviate his $23.6 million salary cap hit, but so far nothing has come from it. Bidwill is not concerned.
"I know our fans are anxious and lot of media is out there talking, but I'd just say, 'Everyone, relax a little bit.' We'll get this worked out," Bidwill said, via the team's website. "I feel good about it. My goal from the beginning was to have Larry Fitzgerald retire as a Cardinal when he is ready to retire many years from now. I am feeling confident something will get worked out."
According to FOX Sports Arizona, regardless of the contract talks Fitzgerald does not plan on returning to the Cardinals. Craig Morgan reports Fitzgerald is not happy with his role on the team as he continues to fall back in the offense. Refusing the big pay cut from the Cardinals will force the team to trade him and allow Fitzgerald to be a top threat once again.
Fitzgerald has never given any hints that he is unhappy with the Cardinals and his role with the team. The wide receiver spot with the media while at the 2015 Pro Bowl and remained complimentary of the franchise he has spent his entire career with, but continued to speak like he was preparing an exit.
"I truly enjoyed my time playing for the Arizona Cardinals, really enjoyed my relationship with Bruce Arians and his coaching staff, truly been a pleasure to play in the NFL for as long as I have been able to but obviously there's business that needs to be taken care of," Fitzgerald said, via Paul Burmeister of Pro Football Talk on NBCSN. "Hopefully we can address it here in the near future. "
Fitzgerald might get the trade he is looking for from the Cardinals, but it might not be to a team that is preparing to contend for a title. The Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns have both been linked to deals for Fitzgerald while the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are long shots to take on his salary.
