Artice - Cards, Fitzgerald not close to deal

[cardsfanmd]

CFM, I'm not arguing with you. I agree completely. He's making way too much money. Even though I think he's the best WR, bar none, $14 million is just way too much for anyone other than Tom Brady or Payton Manning.

Agreed. I do think he is the second best though, behind Andre Johnson.

 

[slanidrac16]

I do NOT believe a new deal will get done this year. I think Fitz plays 2008 on his current contract and they rework his deal next offseason.

Fitz is getting $14M in salary for 2008. If he blows a knee in practice he goes on IR and collects all his 2008 salary. Injury settlements only happen when a team wants to put a player on IR and the player thinks he can return and play. Then, both the player and the team must agree on the buyout, it's basicly a new deal to end the current contract for a set figure.


The only way Fitz doesn't get his 2008 salary is if he gets injured in a non-football related accident, say a car wreck. That's Fitz's only motivation for a new deal. I think that's not enough motivation to get him to sign a reasonable deal, he'll want a blockbuster deal and won't get it. Next year he'll get a much better deal from the Cards.

On the other side of the coin, Fitz will never get that 2009 $17M in salary as the Cards won't allow him to play under contract for that money. They will either redo his deal, trade him, or cut him.

If the Cards aren't willing to pony up a bunch of gauranteed money and extend Fitz on a long term deal, then they shouldn't wait to trade him. Do it now.
Look. We pay him 17m this year. If we extend him next year he is going to get a boat load of gauranteed money NEXT year too. So why not do it now? Add the 17m this year to what you believe you would have to give him next year and get it done today. It makes no sense to wait.

 

[nashman]

Fitz is playing hardball with the cards and you know if we give him a huge contract thats it for FA, mark it down if they give him a big deal we are done in FA they will say they had to use up the money on Fitz. I would rather trade him and get some of the peices we need, WR can always be replaced, maybe even one that won't run out of bounds!

 

[Duckjake]

Fitz is playing hardball with the cards and you know if we give him a huge contract thats it for FA, mark it down if they give him a big deal we are done in FA they will say they had to use up the money on Fitz. I would rather trade him and get some of the peices we need, WR can always be replaced, maybe even one that won't run out of bounds!

I guess you missed the 2002 & 2003 seasons.

In 2002 all our top WRs suffered injuries of varying durations. Freddie Jones the TE was our leading receiver with 44 catches. The Cards were 5-11 and outscored 417-262.

In 2003 we "replaced" all three of our top WRs. The Cards finished 4-12 and were outscored 452-225.

The Cards had to use three first round selections to get our receiving corps where it is today. We're on the verge of being one of the top teams in the NFL. We do not need a return to 2002.

 

[imaCafan]

I guess you missed the 2002 & 2003 seasons.

In 2002 all our top WRs suffered injuries of varying durations. Freddie Jones the TE was our leading receiver with 44 catches. The Cards were 5-11 and outscored 417-262.

In 2003 we "replaced" all three of our top WRs. The Cards finished 4-12 and were outscored 452-225.

The Cards had to use three first round selections to get our receiving corps where it is today. We're on the verge of being one of the top teams in the NFL. We do not need a return to 2002.

Agreed! And I still believe Fitz will get a new contract by the start of FA this year. Fitz' agent is said to be known for waiting 'til the last minute to come to terms.....

 

[nashman]

While Fitz is a good receiver, he is not worth 14-17 million a year. This crap with giving the guys those deals the way graves and co. work them has got to stop. We can't build our roster becuase they structure deals like idiots and we don't have the money to go after areas of need.

 

[Duckjake]

While Fitz is a good receiver, he is not worth 14-17 million a year. This crap with giving the guys those deals the way graves and co. work them has got to stop. We can't build our roster becuase they structure deals like idiots and we don't have the money to go after areas of need.

If Al Johnson is worth $7 million then Fitzgerald is well worth 14-17 million.

 

[Jetstream Green]

this is what I would do if I was Graves

I would play all those freaking tapes of Fitz fumbling the ball, I would play all those tapes of Fitz and his lack of getting a decent run after the catch (he had only one really this year for a TD where he dived over which made me cringe expecting a fumble) and then I would say that those aspects do not warrant such a hefy contract. It is this simple, Fitz does not seem to want to be a Cardinal since fat ass Green left the building and if he can be traded for help on the defensive side and the OL and possibly some cap space for a stud running back in the draft- DO IT! Boldin is still a better WR in my opinion and if one wants to dump on Q in a year he played injured and say Fitz is SO MUCH better, then it is their right but I won't adhere to it.

Peace and be wild

 

[DaisyCutter]

Sigh.

This isn't like this is a free-agent deal. Fitz literally earned this higher salary because he made the Pro Bowl twice in his first 4 seasons. When you guys talk about getting veteran players to sign "incentive-laden" contracts, this is exactly what you are asking for. It's ridiculous.

Anquan Boldin in 4 seasons: 16 TDs, 6 fumbles, 4 lost.
Larry Fitzgerald in 4 seasons: 34 TDs, 4 fumbles, 3 lost.

Thanks for playing. It's been fun. It's worth noting as well that Larry Fitzgerald's yards-per-reception number has climbed each of his 4 seasons in the NFL. He's still getting better. Anquan Boldin's YPC number was the lowest since his 10 game season in 2004.

Everyone here needs to settle down.

 

[imaCafan]

I think we could replace either one (but not even close to the caliber of either). We have two awesome #1 receivers and a decent #3 receiver. So, if we kept Boldin, traded Fitz for a #1 corner+ (not sure what else we could actually get) get a decent #2 receiver with speed to burn in the draft (3rd. round) take Mendenhall in round 1 and best DE round 2 (we could also sign Faneca in FA) then there you go. And RG, if you're reading this board, just get Fitz re-signed to a contract he and you can live with and forget all this stuff about trading Fitz!!!!

 

[Jetstream Green]

my stand is this

I'm just trying to find a way to accept the Cardinal organization possibly botching the whole Fitz thing and trying my best to come to terms with not having Fitz.

 

[imaCafan]

I think they would be fine without Fitz..... IF they made the right moves in FA and the draft to compensate.............still............RG, get 'er done!!!!!