NFL News: Arizona Cardinals, Larry Fitzgerald Working On Deal
The Arizona Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald have started negotiations in bringing back the star wide receiver to the team and finish his career with the franchise in the National Football League, or NFL. Fitzgerald will be owed $8 million by the Cardinals if he’s in the roster by March 14, 2015 but both sides can agree to restructure the contract to create a more friendly salary cap figure for the franchise. Aside from the roster bonus, Fitzgerald will also earn $16 million in salary next season.
"It would be awfully tough for me to see Larry Fitzgerald wearing another uniform. I don't want to negotiate through the media. I have a lot of respect for not only the player -- tremendous amount of respect for Larry Fitzgerald -- but have a great relationship with (Fitzgerald's agent) Eugene Parker, who I've worked with on a number of players." Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said last Friday in a radio interview and also posted on NFL.com.
"The communication has been constant and hopefully we have a resolution that both parties are happy with. I think the biggest thing is, in any negotiation, you've got to find a balance where both parties feel like we have a good situation. And again, we're working tirelessly -- that's my number one objective right now, it's our number one objective as an organization, and we've said it all along and it hasn't changed. Larry Fitzgerald, we want him to retire a Cardinal."
Fitzgerald already restructured his contract with the Cardinals last year but the franchise is hoping they can agree an another similar agreement to help the franchise acquire other key players in the offseason. The 31 year old Fitzgerald will be entering his 12th season in the NFL and has played the last 11 with just one franchise, the Arizona Cardinals.
Fitzgerald is has been named to the NFL Pro Bowl eight times in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was the NFL’s rushing leader in 2008 when he made the First Team of the All-Pro team and rushed for 1,431 yards.
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