Arians, Palmer talk Larry Fitzgerald retirement possibility and their own futures
Dec 20, 2016, 4:06 PM | Updated: Dec 21, 2016, 11:22 am
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) talks with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and head coach Bruce Arians before an NFL preseason football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
TEMPE, Ariz. — Monday night, Larry Fitzgerald told Jim Gray on Westwood One Radio that he was not necessarily contemplating retirement right now.
He did say, however, that he was not certain of his plans going forward, which in theory left the door open for him to call it quits at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
On Tuesday, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians acknowledged that possibility.
“Like every year, the same team never comes back,” he said. “Obviously he would be a big part of it, not coming back if he decides to retire. I hope he comes back.”
In his 13th NFL season, Fitzgerald has an NFL-leading 98 catches for 949 yards and five touchdowns. With 12 receptions over the final two games he would set a new career high — topping last year’s 109 — and needs just 51 more yards for his eighth career 1,000-yard season.
The 33-year-old is still playing at a high level, so it is understandable why Arians would like to see him back for another season.
The coach said he has not talked to Fitzgerald about his future, though with regards to his own status, Arians reaffirmed that he will be back in 2017.
“I ain’t going nowhere,” the 64-year-old said.
That’s not to say Arians will not at some point talk to his receiver and perhaps convince him to give it one more shot, which is something QB Carson Palmer said he has not done yet, either.
“I haven’t talked to him about anything other than Seattle and Christmas presents for his boys and what I’m getting mine,” he said. “Haven’t had that discussion. We’ll talk about that stuff later.”
When that time comes, Palmer said he would try to convince Fitzgerald to stay if he had to, but admitted there’s only so much he could do.
“The guys need to make the decision, regardless of who it is,” he said.
Asked if he had ever successfully convinced someone to keep playing rather than retire, Palmer said he could not recall having ever done so.
The fact that Palmer could even have that conversation about Fitzgerald when he himself was the subject of retirement speculation is because the quarterback squashed talks of his own retirement after the Cardinals fell to the Saints 48-41 on Sunday. Palmer said he expected to keep playing and would like to.
Being asked about his future did not surprise him, Palmer said, though the impact of his announcement was not something he had even considered.
“I haven’t thought what people think about it, don’t really concern myself with that,” he said. “Just very focused on these last two games and finishing this season the right way.”
Palmer, who will turn 37 on Dec. 27, is coming off one of his best games of the season. He threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns while completing 70 percent of his passes against the Saints. His numbers are not what they were last season when he was in the conversation for MVP, but he’s on pace to finish with another 4,000-yard season and as of now has thrown nine more touchdowns than interceptions.
Arians believes Palmer has taken more criticism this season than has been warranted and is pleased to know his quarterback is not ready to call it quits just yet.
“That sunset ride — them horses ain’t ready to go yet,” the coach said.
