Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald will forego retirement, return for 2017 season
Feb 1, 2017, 7:44 PM | Updated: Feb 2, 2017, 11:35 am
FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 file photo, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) runs after the catch as New York Jets strong safety Calvin Pryor (25) defends during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. The Washington Redskins come to the desert with their offense in high gear, just like the Arizona Cardinals' used to be. On Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016 Washington faces a troubled Cardinals squad languishing deep in the standings at 4-6-1. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Larry Fitzgerald has more work to do.
The Arizona Cardinals receiver will return for his 14th NFL go-around after contemplating retirement despite another year remaining on his contract, according to ESPN’s Jim Trotter and other reports.
Just spoke to Larry Fitzgerald, who said he's definitely returning in 2017 to play the final year on his contract. #Cardinals
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) February 2, 2017
Fitzgerald confirmed Trotter’s report with a tweet:
— Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) February 2, 2017
The 33-year-old was already a safe bet for being a Hall of Famer. The 10-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in receptions twice, once in 2005 when he was 22 in his second NFL season and again in 2016, his most recent season, with 107 receptions.
He currently sits third all-time in receptions (1,125), ninth in receiving yards (14,389) and eighth in receiving touchdowns (104).
Despite making the playoffs just four times with Arizona, Fitzgerald is in a four-way tie for third place — joining Hines Ward, Randy Moss, Antonio Freeman and Fred Biletnikoff — with 10 career postseason touchdown catches in nine games.
The possibility of Fitzgerald retiring heading into the 2016 season was halted slightly when both Fitzgerald and quarterback Carson Palmer added a year to their contracts before last season. Fitzgerald extended contract avoided the possibility of him becoming a free agent this offseason.
Still, the chance was still in the air, and Fitzgerald did not put an end to the speculation in December when he told Jim Gray at season’s end that he was uncertain of what he was going to do moving forward.
In late December, Arizona head coach Bruce Arians indicated that what the Cardinals did in the offseason could play a big role in Fitzgerald’s decision.
