Report: Arizona Cardinals, Larry Fitzgerald close on a new contract
Feb 18, 2015, 2:28 PM | Updated: 4:46 pm
One of the biggest questions facing the Arizona Cardinals this offseason surrounds the future of wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
The 11-year veteran’s unfriendly salary cap figure of $23.6 million would be untenable for general manager Steve Keim and the Cardinals to work with. Team officials have been consistent in saying they wanted to work out a new contract to keep Fitzgerald in red and white until he retires.
One report, from Pro Football Talk, says the deal is done.
Per source, Cardinals' new deal with Larry Fitzgerald is done. Creates nearly $13M in 2015 cap space.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 18, 2015
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the significant progress between the two sides Wednesday morning.
Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald closing in on multi-year deal that will get done and enable him to finish his career in Arizona.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2015
The reported $13 million in salary cap savings is huge for a team that was $16 million over the figure before this move. The Cardinals have to be under the $140 million salary cap by March 10.
Fitzgerald, 31, is coming off of a down season in 2014 when he caught 63 passes for 784 yards — the lowest totals he’s had in each category since his rookie season in 2004.
His leadership and field presence, however, are unquestioned. The Cardinals went 0-2 in his absence last season.
Last week, Keim reiterated to Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM his desire to lock up the future Hall-of-Famer and that there was a specific way he wanted to handle the negotiations.
“I don’t want to negotiate through the media,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for not only the player — tremendous amount of respect for Larry Fitzgerald — but have a great relationship with (Fitzgerald’s agent) Eugene Parker, who I’ve worked with on a number of players.
“The communication has been constant and hopefully we have a resolution that both parties are happy with.”
The eight-time Pro Bowler is the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions (909), yards (12,151) and touchdowns catches (89).
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