Bruce Arians ‘truly believes’ Fitzgerald would play in right system
Jan 19, 2018, 3:44 PM | Updated: Jan 20, 2018, 8:21 am
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians and Larry Fitzgerald watch players during an NFL football organized team activity, Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at the Cardinals' training facility in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
When it comes down to whether or not Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald retires, former head coach Bruce Arians gave his two cents Friday.
“I truly believe he would like to play in the right system, and everything that falls right, I think he’d like to play one more year and come back one more year and come in second,” Arians said on the Burns & Gambo Show on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
It wouldn’t come as much of a shock should he decide to stay for another season given his 2017 campaign.
Last season, he reeled in 109 receptions, tying his career-high he set in 2015, for 1,156 yards and six touchdowns. He also had his first pass completion when he connected with fellow receiver Jaron Brown for 21 yards.
If Fitzgerald were to stay, he would have a legitimate shot at passing Terrell Owens at 15,934 yards for second on the all-time receiving yards list. Fitzgerald is currently at 15,545. He could also make a run at former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez at 1,325, for the No. 2 spot on the all-time receptions list. At 1,234, Fitzgerald needs 92 to pass him — a number he’s surpassed seven times in his career.
But his on-the-field performance isn’t the only thing that gives Fitzgerald his All-Pro demeanor, according to Arians.
“You can never talk about Larry until you talk about the person, what he means to the organization,” Arians said. “Being able to have him as a leader on how to do everything right in your life as a player and then play hard, practice hard, all those things, that all comes second.”
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