Negotiations have begun between the Arizona Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald as the wide receiver continues to work through what his future will be with the franchise. Fitzgerald has been the face of the Cardinals since getting drafted and holds most of the franchise records for the team, but a contract with a heavy cap hit has the relationship strained at best. Arizona is hopeful to negotiate a restructured deal that may or may not include a pay cut, but if those plans fail then Fitzgerald could realistically be out come free agency.
According to AZCentral.com, the Cardinals and Fitzgerald have already met to discuss his current contract. The wide reliever is a heavy $23.6 million cap hit next season while being due $8 million if he is on the roster come March 17. Those are big numbers for the Cardinals to try and handle. The team would ideally like Fitzgerald to volunteer himself for a pay cut, but the team is also working to restructure his deal and make his hit to the team less.
The ball is essentially in Fitzgerald's court. The Cardinals have reportedly laid the cards on the table for the wide receiver and he must decide if it is worth it to accept a pay cut or if he should head elsewhere for the remaining years of his career. Arizona has no plans of releasing Fitzgerald if the wide receiver declines a new contract and AZCentral.com reports the team will escalate a trade as quickly as possible.
Fitzgerald could have multiple landing spots if he hits the open market. Several teams are in need of a true No. 1 receiver including the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and San Diego Chargers. The issue is that Fitzgerald will lose all leverage if traded. While the wide receiver likely wants to be sent to a contending team, Arizona will simply seek out the best deal and make a move.
General manager Steve Keim has stated several times that he would ideally like to keep Fitzgerald for the remainder of his career, but the wide receiver would severely limit what the team can do in free agency this offseason. It is a very real possibility that Fitzgerald finishes his career elsewhere.
