Kurt Warner: Larry Fitzgerald appears to lean toward returning
Jan 29, 2018, 2:54 PM | Updated: 3:12 pm
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald walks off the field following the team's NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Seattle. The Cardinals won 26-24. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
(AP Photo/John Froschauer)
As familiar faces move on from the Arizona Cardinals and new faces come in, fans can only sit and wonder if the team’s all-time leading receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, will come back to play another season.
However, Fitzgerald’s former Hall of Fame quarterback believes that Fitzgerald is leaning toward competing for at least one more season.
“When I had conversations with him I get the sense that he is coming back,” Kurt Warner said on 98.7 FM Arizona Sports Station’s Bickley & Marotta Monday. “He feels like he can still contribute and play, and play at a high level.”
Warner has sensed a different tone when talking to Fitzgerald about possibly retiring this offseason compared to years in the past.
“There were times where I got more of a sense that I got that he was leaning towards maybe not coming back,” Warner said. “Last couple of times I’ve talked, I really feel like he wants to come back and play this season and he’s more committed to it. But that was before all the changes that took place.”
Despite the recent offseason changes, Warner believes that Fitzgerald will take a step back and evaluate the team.
“I think he’s probably sitting back and going, ‘OK, let me meet (head coach) Steve Wilks, let me meet (offensive coordinator) Mike McCoy, let me see what happens at the quarterback position before I finalize this,’” Warner said. “But I get the feeling that he is going to come back.”
Asked Larry Fitzgerald about his plans today. Said, “About to tee off shortly, that's on my mind right now.” Obviously https://t.co/3fkdo0R61Y
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 29, 2018
According to Warner, how successful Fitzgerald believes the team can be is one of the bigger factors in the wide receiver’s decision.
“I think he feels like he can still do it,” Warner said. “But I know he wants to win a championship and compete for a championship.”
Former head coach Bruce Arians and Warner have the same feeling that Fitzgerald will return under the right circumstances.
“I think Larry will do the right thing for him,” Warner said. “I think if he feels like it’s a great situation to succeed and be a part of this new regime, then he’ll be back.”
