Larry Fitzgerald not thinking about contract questions

By CM Towle | Jan 4, 2015

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald can only think about the bitter taste of defeat as contract questions loom in the offseason.

The Cardinals were booted from the NFL playoffs on Saturday in the Wild Card round by the Carolina Panthers. Their season is now over, but plenty of questions remain, from coaches who might leave, to the big contract situation of Larry Fitzgerald. Before the game on Saturday, questions arose about whether the game might be Fitzgerald’s last in a Cardinals uniform.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Cardinals might be planning to ask Fitzgerald to take a pay cut. However, they also said that the ball is in Fitzgerald’s court as to how much he is willing to accept. Cardinals GM Steve Keim said they’d already allowed for Fitzgerald’s salary.

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For Fitzgerald’s part, he’s not thinking about contract questions and salary cap hits the day after his team was defeated in the Wild Card round.

“The taste of defeat is the only thing I can think about right now. It’s all that’s on my mind. It’s been a great season competing with these fellas and this coaching staff,” Fitzgerald said, via the Arizona Republic. “I love Arizona, I love the Cardinals, I love the city. I couldn’t be more appreciative of the opportunity to live my dream and compete in the NFL.”

Fitzgerald’s contract will count for $23.6 million against the Cardinals cap next season, which is a $15.6 million base and he’s due an $8 million bonus if he’s on the roster in March. That number makes it difficult for the Cardinals to do much of anything to improve the team. Keim has said they are not considering releasing Fitzgerald, but asking for a contract restructure or even a trade is not out of the question.

Fitzgerald has said very little about the situation himself, other than at the beginning of the season when he acknowledged that his cap number would have to be addressed eventually. As Pro Football Talk notes, that eventuality is here.

"At some point, Fitzgerald will have to think about whether he wants to continue with the Cardinals in a competitive situation because altering his salary and cap imprint will give them a much better chance of returning to the playoffs in 2015 and beyond."

The Cardinals were woeful on offense on Saturday, putting up the fewest amount of yards in playoff history with 78. Mistakes by the Panthers kept them in the game early, but eventually the game sailed out of reach, as did any hopes of continuing their season.

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