ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals president Bidwill on Larry Fitzgerald contract: ‘We should be able to work this out’

Jan 16, 2015, 11:41 PM | Updated: Jan 17, 2015, 12:26 am

Of the many story lines surrounding the Arizona Cardinals as they head into the offseason, the one that is dominating the headlines — at least early on — is Larry Fitzgerald’s contract.

Fitzgerald, the franchise’s leader in most relevant category for a receiver, is scheduled to count $23.6 million against the team’s 2015 salary cap, which is a number no one expects the team to be comfortable with. So, the team will either have to restructure the veteran’s contract or face the idea of life without the future Hall-of-Famer.

A guest of KTAR’s Mac & Gaydos on News 92.3 FM Friday, Cardinals president Michael Bidwill addressed the topic of Fitzgerald’s contract and if the eight-time Pro Bowler will be back in Arizona next season.

“I think he will,” Bidwill said. “We’ve said all along that we want to see him retire a Cardinal, and that’s many years off, and I’m sure we’ll get it worked out.

“We’ve had a couple of conversations that I think were productive and so we’ll continue those discussions, or at least (general manager) Steve Keim and his agent will.”

This past season, Fitzgerald caught 63 passes for 784 yards and two touchdowns. They represented some of the lowest totals in his career, though many would attribute his “down” season to shaky quarterback play that was brought on by injuries.

In multiple interviews since the season ended Fitzgerald has been asked about future, and for the most part he has continued to say he would like to stay in Arizona but understands the NFL is a business and that something is going to have to be done with his contract. He has never expressed a desire to leave, and given that the Cardinals won 11 games last season and appear poised for a good amount of success in the near future, it may not make a lot of sense to.

Bidwill said the impression he gets is that the 31-year-old wideout, who has played his entire 11-year NFL career in Arizona, is not looking to skip town.

“I think this is home, I think he loves Arizona, I think he loves the Cardinals, I think he loves what we’re doing,” he said. “We’re a good football team. Without getting into too much, I think it’s perfect for us and it’s perfect for him, and we should be able to work this out.”

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals is embracing change amid coaching staff carousel....

Tyler Drake

‘Part of the business’: Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon facing new challenge in Year 3

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is facing a new reality with the departures of multiple assistants this offseason.

19 hours ago

A recent ESPN mock draft has the Cardinals taking two cornerbacks in the first two rounds of the NF...

Brandon Cadiz

ESPN’s Matt Miller has Cardinals taking two CBs in Mock Draft

ESPN's analyst Matt Miller has the Cardinals taking two cornerbacks with their first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

2 days ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort looks on. It's officially NFL mock draft season with Arizona's...

Tyler Drake

NFL mock draft tracker: What will Cardinals do with No. 16 pick?

A look across the NFL mock draft landscape when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals' No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft.

2 days ago

The Jaguars are hiring former Cardinals pass game specialist Spencer Whipple as their next QBs coac...

Tyler Drake

Jaguars hiring Cardinals’ Spencer Whipple as their new quarterbacks coach

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hiring Cardinals pass game specialist Spencer Whipple as their next quarterbacks coach.

2 days ago

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball for a touchdown during the secon...

Associated Press

Saquon Barkley can set the NFL total rushing record, but he wants a Super Bowl win

Saquon Barkley is 30 yards shy of breaking the NFL season rushing record, postseason included. He wants a Super Bowl win.

2 days ago

Could the Arizona Cardinals be headed toward adding another offensive line cornerstone in the 2025 ...

Tyler Drake

You can officially put these Ohio State prospects on Cardinals’ NFL Draft radar

Could the connection between Cardinals OL coach Justin Frye and a couple of offensive line prospects impact what Arizona does in the NFL Draft?

2 days ago

Arizona Cardinals president Bidwill on Larry Fitzgerald contract: ‘We should be able to work this out’