ARIZONA CARDINALS

Dealing Cards: Larry Fitzgerald will address future once in training camp

May 23, 2017, 9:35 AM | Updated: 1:40 pm

Arizona Cardinals NFL football player Larry Fitzgerald (11) stretches during a voluntary team worko...

Arizona Cardinals NFL football player Larry Fitzgerald (11) stretches during a voluntary team workout, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX — In February, Larry Fitzgerald announced he would return to play football in 2017, thereby putting an end to the speculation and rumors regarding his future.

For a little while, anyway.

As the Arizona Cardinals continue with their organized team activities and the regular season gets closer by the day, Fitzgerald understands that since he openly considered retirement this past offseason, people will wonder if the franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns will soon follow through on the thought.

“Training camp I’m going to answer it one time, and I’m not even going to address it anymore,” Fitzgerald said Monday at Steak 44 ahead of the Arians Family Foundation Fundraiser Dinner. “I’m not even going to address it anymore.”

Fitzgerald, 33 years old and entering his 14th NFL season, said “yeah” a few times when asked if the constant questions about his future get annoying, though he understands why the topic comes up.

“That’s sports — everybody wants to know what the future holds and nobody knows what the future holds.

“I don’t know what it holds.”

That is the long-term future, anyway. The immediate future for Fitzgerald involves getting through OTAs and, as he said, getting into shape.

“I feel good, I feel really good,” he said of where he’s at. “I’m a little heavy right now, I’ve got to get my weight down a little bit, but I’ll do that before we get to training camp.

“But in terms of just running routes and being out there, mentally knowing what I’m doing assignment-wise, I feel really good.”

Fitzgerald added it is great to see the team’s younger receivers, like John Brown, J.J. Nelson, Chad Williams and Brittan Golden, improving their games.

A new guard

Much has been made about Jared Veldheer’s transition to the right side of the offensive line, and with good reason. However, the player lining up to his left, Evan Boehm, is going through a similar process.

A center in college, Boehm saw action in all 16 games last season as a rookie, getting time at right guard in each of the last two games of the year.

While a starting spot in 2017 is not guaranteed to be his, right now he is running with the first-team at right guard, and he feels like OTAs are going well so far.

“Just trying to get that right spot down, that right guard spot down,” he said. “Mentally I’m getting there; there’s still some technique stuff I need to be working on, but I’m getting there and every day is a learning day and I’m trying to get better each time I step out on the field.”

Chosen in the fourth round out of Missouri, Boehm sees himself as a center down the road but knows his immediate future is at right guard. He is excited about playing between Veldheer and center A.Q. Shipley, both of whom he said are smart football players and can help him prepare for this season and down the road.

That he and Veldheer are both learning new spots at the same time is not really an issue, Boehm said, because they communicate well and are continuing to improve in their new spots.

For him personally, the biggest challenge is getting the technique down.

“At center you had to know how to kick both ways, so I didn’t know how to kick in a right-handed stance,” he said. “But there’s still some more things I need to work on technique-wise at right guard, and right now that’s the biggest thing for me.”

Opposite Patrick

Ask someone to find a weak spot on the Cardinals’ defense and chances are they will point to cornerback.

More specifically, cornerback after Patrick Peterson.

While the Cardinals have the six-time Pro Bowler on one side of the field, opposite him is nothing but question marks and potential.

Justin Bethel? Brandon Williams? Rudy Ford? Sojourn Shelton? Someone who is not yet on the roster?

Asked for his take on the position, Peterson said they’ll have to wait and see.

“We have guys — Justin making a lot of great turns here in OTAs, Brandon is doing the same thing,” he said. “Those guys are definitely improving from last year, but it’s all going to come down to how these guys react when balls are really coming at them in live action.

“I have the utmost confidence in those guys, but at the same time I’m not playing for them. Those guys look really, really good right now, we just have to wait and see what happens during the season.”

Follow Adam Green on Twitter

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Micah Parsons sacks Daniel Jones...

Tyler Drake

Electric Cowboys defense presents toughest out yet for 2023 Cardinals

You don't have to look far to get an idea of just how dominant the Dallas Cowboys defense has been two games into the regular season.

2 hours ago

Leki Fotu (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)...

Arizona Sports

Injury report: Cardinals’ Leki Fotu back at practice after missing Week 2

The banged up Arizona Cardinals are searching for their first win of the year when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

5 hours ago

Trevon Diggs #7 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a game against the New York Giants at MetLi...

Stephen Gugliociello

Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs suffered torn ACL ahead of Cardinals game

Reports coming out of Cowboys camp Thursday, standout cornerback Trevon Diggs suffered a torn ACL during practice on Thursday.

6 hours ago

Joshua Dobbs in Week 2...

Tyler Drake

New era notes: It’s all about trusting the process for Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs

Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs has had quite the NFL road to get to where he is today.

1 day ago

Jeff Smith #16 of the New York Jets caries the ball during the first quarter of a preseason game ag...

Kellan Olson

Arizona Cardinals sign WR Jeff Smith to practice squad

The Arizona Cardinals made an addition to the practice squad on Wednesday, signing wide receiver Jeff Smith.

1 day ago

Carlos Watkins...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Carlos Watkins needs biceps surgery, L.J. Collier on the mend

Carlos Watkins is expected to miss time with a biceps injury that needs surgery, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Wednesday.

1 day ago

Dealing Cards: Larry Fitzgerald will address future once in training camp