Fitz are you paying attention???

[kerouac9]

Thanks. I'm obviously very knowledgeable of how restructures work.

In this particular situation, he's getting an additional million a year and there is no salary cap relief. Sure, the guarantees are wiped out. Plus, the Patriots would be out of their minds to cut him unless he suffers a serious injury, so in essence, there's little risk involved for Brady.

Brady is getting a raise, while we're going to ask Fitz to take a pay cut.

Again, these two situations are different. Brady's situation is more for cash flow; whereas for Fitz, the motivation is to gain salary cap flexibility. I'm sure if the salary cap wasn't an issue, the team would just pay the $23 mil outright, but that's a fantasy.

That's utter, utter nonsense. Brady just gave up $24M in completely guaranteed money as of this week--as long as he wants to play football--for $27M in speculative money that the Patriots need to decide to pay him either on the first day of each league year or in Week 1.

Bill Barnwell of Grantland just did a good piece on this restructure. His view is that Brady wanted to protect himself from being traded to Oakland or Tampa in two years.

 

[TJ]

That's utter, utter nonsense. Brady just gave up $24M in completely guaranteed money as of this week--as long as he wants to play football--for $27M in speculative money that the Patriots need to decide to pay him either on the first day of each league year or in Week 1.



Bill Barnwell of Grantland just did a good piece on this restructure. His view is that Brady wanted to protect himself from being traded to Oakland or Tampa in two years.

You honestly think New England is going to rid of Brady anytime soon barring career-ending injury?

Kraft would look silly doing so.

 

[kerouac9]

You honestly think New England is going to rid of Brady anytime soon barring career-ending injury?

Kraft would look silly doing so.

I don't know. Couldn't you have said the same thing about Peyton Manning three years ago? Or Larry Fitzgerald?

Barnwell's argument is that Brady saw Richard Sherman get exiled to Oakland a few years ago and just saw Logan Mankins get traded to Tampa. The Patriots have shown that they have no loyalty to players who they feel aren't on the right side of the cost-benefit analysis: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/tom-brady-new-england-patriots-contract/

I agree with Barnwell that Brady is more interested in winning games than making money, and he's giving up guaranteed money--a ton of guaranteed money--so that he can choose where he wants to go if New England decides to move on from him.

Pats fans were openly talking about putting in Garrapolo mid-year when Brady was playing mediocre football. Their fan base isn't going to riot as long as Belicheck is on the sideline. That New England Patriot brand is bigger than Brady right now.

It's actually similar to what we're looking at with Fitz today. Three or four years ago, Fitz was bigger than the Arizona Cardinals, so he could demand a contract that blew the lid of anything at his position in history--even at a time when the cap was projected to be flat following the new CBA. Now, following two double-digit win seasons, I think that fans would move on from Fitz as long as Arians is the centerpiece of the franchise.

Even Cardinals marketing is aware of it, which is why you see Peterson jerseys on sale at Target but not Fitzgerald ones.

 

[Chopper0080]

I would prefer to cut Fitzgerald and save 9mil than keep him at his current rate. WR are becoming a dime a dozen, especially big bodied, non vertical players. I like Fitz. I would love for Fitz to play his entire career with Arizona. However, it is time for everyone to be honest about what Fitz beings to the table these days.

 

[Big D]

I remember quite a few folks saying similar things about Boldin having seriously declined and not being the same player, old and injury prone, greedy, ect in his last days here. Turns out he had quite a bit still left in the tank.

Of course I am hoping for a restructure that is beneficial for both sides because I think Fitzgerald is still a very good player and can continue to be very productive while obviously the ridiculous camp number needs to be drastically reduced in order for the team to be able to stay competetive.

I really don't want to see another one of my all time favorite players end up in another uniform (especially a hated division rival) BUT I think Fitzgerald has earned the right to stick to his guns money wise and either get paid a figure he is comfortable with and feels he deserves or part ways and be able to pick and choose where he wants to go for the first time in what has been a long career.

I think the guy not only wants to win, but also has a deep desire to be a HOFer and might feel like he has a better chance at accomplishing those goals elsewhere if the money is going to be the same anyway. After witnessing what has taken place here over the past several seasons I wouldn't really blame him honestly. Of course, the grass isn't always greener...

 

[82CardsGrad]

I remember quite a few folks saying similar things about Boldin having seriously declined and not being the same player, old and injury prone, greedy, ect in his last days here. Turns out he had quite a bit still left in the tank.

Of course I am hoping for a restructure that is beneficial for both sides because I think Fitzgerald is still a very good player and can continue to be very productive while obviously the ridiculous camp number needs to be drastically reduced in order for the team to be able to stay competetive.

I really don't want to see another one of my all time favorite players end up in another uniform (especially a hated division rival) BUT I think Fitzgerald has earned the right to stick to his guns money wise and either get paid a figure he is comfortable with and feels he deserves or part ways and be able to pick and choose where he wants to go for the first time in what has been a long career.

I think the guy not only wants to win, but also has a deep desire to be a HOFer and might feel like he has a better chance at accomplishing those goals elsewhere if the money is going to be the same anyway. After witnessing what has taken place here over the past several seasons I wouldn't really blame him honestly. Of course, the grass isn't always greener...

 

[oaken1]

984 yards... Just isn't impressive AT ALL. And when Fitz was a star, it didn't matter who was throwing the ball. McCown... Skolbton... He put up 1400 yards with all those awful QBs. The argument that his numbers (which were terrible this season) are all because of the QB just doesn't hold water when guys like Andre Hopkins, Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, Andre Johnson... Eric FREAKING Decker on the Jets all have MUCH better seasons with just as awful QBs.

He's just not a great player anymore. And if he is, apparently he can't be in the way BA uses him. It's sad, but it is what it is and we can't live in the past if this team wants to move forward into the future. Bottom line: He takes a pay cut or he needs to be gone. Continuing to put this off and hurting our cap down the line and limiting us in the present is a double whammy tha makes no sense to me.

it holds water to anyone with any sense or football knowledge.

Fitz got those catches from those suck ass QB's because he was the only guy they could complete passes to....who else did we have that could go up twelve feet in the air and come down with the ball??...in double coverage?? ...or triple at times??

the ball was FORCED to Larry for several years in Az.... once BA got here the force feeding stopped,...thus, the numbers dropped. That is both reality, and history.

present and future...football is a business,..Larry aint what he used to be and likely could not be even if he was asked to...if he don't take a pay cut,...trade him to bilicheat or cut him. Love the dude and all....but that contract he got because his god father was the coach has been strangling the team long enough....time to cut bait and run if he don't take less money....he is worth about 3 mil a year.

 

[kerouac9]

I remember quite a few folks saying similar things about Boldin having seriously declined and not being the same player, old and injury prone, greedy, ect in his last days here. Turns out he had quite a bit still left in the tank.

Your memory is faulty, then. Boldin played 15 games his last season here and racked up over 1000 yards. He was 29 years old.

 

[Big D]

Your memory is faulty, then. Boldin played 15 games his last season here and racked up over 1000 yards. He was 29 years old.

My memory is fine. Like I said there were plenty of Cardinals fans saying the exact things I posted above about Boldin, production be damned. Perhaps your memory is faulty.

 

[kerouac9]

My memory is fine. Like I said there were plenty of Cardinals fans saying the exact things I posted above about Boldin, production be damned. Perhaps your memory is faulty.

Nope. I have a pretty clear memory that it was like Black Wednesday here when we lost Dansby, Boldin, and Rolle in like a 48 hour period. People were mad that we couldn't hold on to Boldin, but also annoyed about his shenanigans like holding out of OTAs with a mysterious hamstring issue.

People believed in Whis more than they did the player at the time coming off two consecutive playoff seasons. I think most fans here wished Boldin the best of luck but understood that it made no sense to pay Boldin and Fitzgerald the same amount of money.

Greedy I'll give you, but old and non-productive? I'd like to see the evidence for that.

 

[Big D]

I heard it all. On the decline, not the same player, injury prone, his style of play has put too much wear and tear on his body and he won't last much longer, and yes even old. Quite a few fans were adamant about no longer wanting Boldin on the team.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

W.W.R.G.D

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[SoCal Cardfan]

Nope. I have a pretty clear memory that it was like Black Wednesday here when we lost Dansby, Boldin, and Rolle in like a 48 hour period. People were mad that we couldn't hold on to Boldin, but also annoyed about his shenanigans like holding out of OTAs with a mysterious hamstring issue.

People believed in Whis more than they did the player at the time coming off two consecutive playoff seasons. I think most fans here wished Boldin the best of luck but understood that it made no sense to pay Boldin and Fitzgerald the same amount of money.

Greedy I'll give you, but old and non-productive? I'd like to see the evidence for that.

Nope, a lot of us (myself included) said "don't let the door hit ya on the way out"...

Mostly due to his tantrum on the sideline.

That being said, I love Q as a player, But if given the choice for a do-over, I would still take Fitz over Q.

Fitz has been a positive face of the franchise since day one.
And for a team that for years... basically picked a name out of a hat to put on the program cover, that's been refreshing.

 

[Tyler3450]

The reality is that 12 million dollars is STILL ridiculous for Fitz at this point. We're talking about a WR who hasn't had 1000 yards for three straight seasons. You don't move forward by paying guys for what they did in the past.

ding ding ding

 

[Tyler3450]

I would prefer to cut Fitzgerald and save 9mil than keep him at his current rate. WR are becoming a dime a dozen, especially big bodied, non vertical players. I like Fitz. I would love for Fitz to play his entire career with Arizona. However, it is time for everyone to be honest about what Fitz beings to the table these days.

DING DING DING... NEW NFL rules are making WR's the new RB where it makes no sense to pay big money to one... Notice the top 20 wr contracts this year... only 5 are in the playoffs (2 being on the lions)

Top WR's Contracts
1. Calvin Johnson Lions
2. Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals
3. Percy Harvin Jets
4. Mike Wallace Dolphins
5. Dwayne Bowe Chiefs
6. Vincent Jackson Buccaneers
7. Brandon Marshall Bears
8. Jordy Nelson Packers
9. Andre Johnson Texans
10. Greg Jennings Vikings
11. Victor Cruz Giants
12. Pierre Garcon Redskins
13. Antonio Brown Steelers
14. DeSean Jackson Redskins
15. Mike Williams Bills
16. Marques Colston Saints
17. Steve Johnson 49ers
18. Eric Decker Jets
19. Golden Tate Lions
20. Brian Hartline Dolphins

 

[Tyler3450]

I remember quite a few folks saying similar things about Boldin having seriously declined and not being the same player, old and injury prone, greedy, ect in his last days here. Turns out he had quite a bit still left in the tank.

Of course I am hoping for a restructure that is beneficial for both sides because I think Fitzgerald is still a very good player and can continue to be very productive while obviously the ridiculous camp number needs to be drastically reduced in order for the team to be able to stay competetive.

I really don't want to see another one of my all time favorite players end up in another uniform (especially a hated division rival) BUT I think Fitzgerald has earned the right to stick to his guns money wise and either get paid a figure he is comfortable with and feels he deserves or part ways and be able to pick and choose where he wants to go for the first time in what has been a long career.

I think the guy not only wants to win, but also has a deep desire to be a HOFer and might feel like he has a better chance at accomplishing those goals elsewhere if the money is going to be the same anyway. After witnessing what has taken place here over the past several seasons I wouldn't really blame him honestly. Of course, the grass isn't always greener...

Worst thought of this is that if you look at the numbers since Boldin left he has been paid significantly less and has had almost identical stats to Fitz.

 

[Tyler3450]

Nope, a lot of us (myself included) said "don't let the door hit ya on the way out"...

Mostly due to his tantrum on the sideline.

That being said, I love Q as a player, But if given the choice for a do-over, I would still take Fitz over Q.

Fitz has been a positive face of the franchise since day one.
And for a team that for years... basically picked a name out of a hat to put on the program cover, that's been refreshing.

I would have taken Q... i get what you are saying above.. but Q is the definition of a football player... Fitz is what you said above cuz he is concerned with his image and has a team to polish up everything he does and make him come across as the above. When the commentators were raving about q on sunday about how he is two different guys on the football field and off is 1000% true.. Great guy (does a lot for charity that is not publicized cuz he does it cuz he wants to) off the field and an animal on the field. When Wolf goes off on his tangents about the blood sport and sinking knuckles into the dirt blah blah blah pause... i picture anquan boldin guy will run you over .

 

[GatorAZ]

I would have taken Q... i get what you are saying above.. but Q is the definition of a football player... Fitz is what you said above cuz he is concerned with his image and has a team to polish up everything he does and make him come across as the above. When the commentators were raving about q on sunday about how he is two different guys on the football field and off is 1000% true.. Great guy (does a lot for charity that is not publicized cuz he does it cuz he wants to) off the field and an animal on the field. When Wolf goes off on his tangents about the blood sport and sinking knuckles into the dirt blah blah blah pause... i picture anquan boldin guy will run you over .

It was impossible to predict Q having this type of longevity though.

 

[Tyler3450]

It was impossible to predict Q having this type of longevity though.

I called it (i thought he was the better of the two but clearly fitz was the face) but i do agree with his style of play wasn't positive he would hold up...

 

[WildBB]

It was impossible to predict Q having this type of longevity though.

But he's so slow.......and ineffective.....

 

[WisconsinCard]

I just like how the OP dropped a gernade and then ran away after the facts came out that TB did what was in TBs best interest. It did spur 4 pages of chat though...

 

[ARZCardinals]

Yall are fools to think he's going to give up money. It's funny how dumb some of the people here are thinking he has $24 million coming next season and he's going to leave a dime on the table...he won't

He's going to take every penny just like you would.

 

[Shane]

I just like how the OP dropped a gernade and then ran away after the facts came out that TB did what was in TBs best interest. It did spur 4 pages of chat though...

Didn't run.. It's just a fact TB gave up 24 million in GUARANTEED money for a nominal raise... Epitome of unselfishness even if it allows him to not be traded... GUARANTEED $$ is what it's all about to 99% of today's greedy athlete.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

DING DING DING... NEW NFL rules are making WR's the new RB where it makes no sense to pay big money to one... Notice the top 20 wr contracts this year... only 5 are in the playoffs (2 being on the lions)

Top WR's Contracts
1. Calvin Johnson Lions
2. Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals
3. Percy Harvin Jets
4. Mike Wallace Dolphins
5. Dwayne Bowe Chiefs
6. Vincent Jackson Buccaneers
7. Brandon Marshall Bears
8. Jordy Nelson Packers
9. Andre Johnson Texans
10. Greg Jennings Vikings
11. Victor Cruz Giants
12. Pierre Garcon Redskins
13. Antonio Brown Steelers
14. DeSean Jackson Redskins
15. Mike Williams Bills
16. Marques Colston Saints
17. Steve Johnson 49ers
18. Eric Decker Jets
19. Golden Tate Lions
20. Brian Hartline Dolphins

How the hell did that happen? No wonder that GM was canned.

 

[kerouac9]

I just like how the OP dropped a gernade and then ran away after the facts came out that TB did what was in TBs best interest. It did spur 4 pages of chat though...

I think you can argue about whether or not what Brady did was in his best interest--but not about whether it was in his best financial interest, because I think it's pretty clear it wasn't.

But it's still pretty funny.

Yall are fools to think he's going to give up money. It's funny how dumb some of the people here are thinking he has $24 million coming next season and he's going to leave a dime on the table...he won't

He's going to take every penny just like you would.

I don't blame Fitz for taking every penny he can. I'll celebrate if he stays, and I'll be sad if he goes but not angry. That said, he doesn't have "$24 million coming next season." He's scheduled to make $16M in salary and bonus.

The problem with coming to him for a pay cut is that he could get, IMO, pretty close to that $16M in 2015 from someone if he gets cut.