ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals have begun talks with Larry Fitzgerald’s agent

Aug 5, 2011, 4:21 PM | Updated: 5:32 pm

When the Arizona Cardinals traded for Kevin Kolb many believed it was done to ensure that all-everything wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald would remain in the Valley.

With the dust settling from the free agent and trade frenzy that engulfed the NFL over the last week, Cards general manager Rod Graves is letting everyone know his focus has shifted from adding new players to the roster to keeping Fitz on it.

“I have made contact with his agent,” Graves told Sports 620 KTAR’s Doug and Wolf Friday. “We’ve agreed to initiate these talks. I made it clear to him that we felt like we could get something done before the start of the season. At this point I just arrived in camp two days ago. I’m still in preparation for getting an offer over to them. I don’t anticipate this has to be a long drawn-out process.”

Whether it is a long process or not seems to be in the hands of Fitzgerald and not the Cards. The team has made it clear they are willing to make him the highest paid player in franchise history and one of the top receivers in the league. The entire process will hinge on whether or not the receiver wants to test the free agency waters or take the safety of a top dollar contract in a city he’s played his entire career in.

Graves doesn’t sound overly concerned Fitz will choose the former.

“It’s my impression that Larry wants to remain here as an Arizona Cardinal,” he said. “Whenever you have two parties that have a mutual goal, I think it can be accomplished.”

It benefits the Cardinals to get a deal done in the next four weeks to make sure Fitzgerald’s guaranteed money counts against this years cap. It may benefit Fitzgerald to wait it out to gain more leverage.

We’ll soon find out if an extension will be accomplished on the Cards’ schedule or if Fitzgerald has a different timetable in mind.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Cardinals have begun talks with Larry Fitzgerald’s agent