Fitz restructures contract

[Totally_Red]

The reality of the situation is that Larry Fitzgerald has been 'the face of the Cardinals franchise' since Kurt Warner retired. He is an outstanding representative of the organization IMO. He doesn't bad-mouth his teammates or coaches. He is a leader through good times and bad. He organizes and pays for teammates and others to attend his annual passing camp in Minnesota.

He contributes a lot to the Arizona Cardinals and to the community. He is more than just another wide-receiver. And he is being paid as more than 'just a very good wide receiver.' He's being paid as a leader whose role goes well beyond what he produces on the field.

Unlike Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson, he rarely misses a game. Andre missed 9 games in 2011, 3 games in 2010 and 7 games in 2007. Calvin Johnson is more durable, but still missed 2 games last year, a game in 2010 and 2 more in 2009. The last time Larry missed a game was 2007. He's durable. He's reliable. Throught thick and thin, number 11 is there.

Despite all that, people want to go on and on and on about his 2015 salary cap number. How about appreciating all that Larry has done for the franchise over the past 10 years?

 

[BigRedRage]

I think most of them are of the opinion they've earned what they got.

It's rare to have athletes give up $$.

That said the NFL is a little different in that the owners have an out, unlike baseball. Texas is still paying part of A. Rod's 25M yr. contract.

Which is true but Dockett is much more mature than he used to be, his passion still burns and he can still play. He however is a guy who bleeds cardinal red through and through. If his contract is a problem and he is approached in the aspect of we want you to stay here and retire here but we cannot do this anymore and we offer something reasonable for him and for us I bet he would do it. JMHO. I dont think he wants to be anywhere else. The guy invented Birdgang.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

How about appreciating all that Larry has done for the franchise over the past 10 years?

Yep, Larry is under appreciated. Strong take!

 

[Jetstream Green]

Which is true but Dockett is much more mature than he used to be, his passion still burns and he can still play. He however is a guy who bleeds cardinal red through and through. If his contract is a problem and he is approached in the aspect of we want you to stay here and retire here but we cannot do this anymore and we offer something reasonable for him and for us I bet he would do it. JMHO. I dont think he wants to be anywhere else. The guy invented Birdgang.

This, I actually believe Dockett will take a pay cut to remain on the team and keep playing in the NFL

 

[Shane]

The reality of the situation is that Larry Fitzgerald has been 'the face of the Cardinals franchise' since Kurt Warner retired. He is an outstanding representative of the organization IMO. He doesn't bad-mouth his teammates or coaches. He is a leader through good times and bad. He organizes and pays for teammates and others to attend his annual passing camp in Minnesota.

He contributes a lot to the Arizona Cardinals and to the community. He is more than just another wide-receiver. And he is being paid as more than 'just a very good wide receiver.' He's being paid as a leader whose role goes well beyond what he produces on the field.

Unlike Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson, he rarely misses a game. Andre missed 9 games in 2011, 3 games in 2010 and 7 games in 2007. Calvin Johnson is more durable, but still missed 2 games last year, a game in 2010 and 2 more in 2009. The last time Larry missed a game was 2007. He's durable. He's reliable. Throught thick and thin, number 11 is there.

Despite all that, people want to go on and on and on about his 2015 salary cap number. How about appreciating all that Larry has done for the franchise over the past 10 years?

Lots of players in the NFL do what your saying for their teams including top level QBs and even they don't have a 24 million dollar cap hit. Fitz is appreciated. But that cap hit is ludicrous and in no way shape or form can be justified for anyone not playing QB least of all a WR who touches the ball 6 times a game and can't break 1000 yards. It's insane and no matter what anyone says about being the face and a great dude etc..... In fact it's borderline moronic to try and justify it.

 

[Duckjake]

Just for fun:

Eli Manning and Victor Cruz 2014 Cap hit $27.8 million
Romo and Austin $30.02 million $34.9 million in 2015
Stafford and CJohnson $28.8 million $38 million in 2015
Schaub and AJohnson 29.8 million $33 million in 2015
Palmer and Fitz $19.6 million and $33.6 million in 2015.*

Looks like we're not alone in this parade.

*from sportrac

 

[BigRedRage]

Just for fun:

Eli Manning and Victor Cruz 2014 Cap hit $27.8 million
Romo and Austin $30.02 million $34.9 million in 2015
Stafford and CJohnson $28.8 million $38 million in 2015
Schaub and AJohnson 29.8 million $33 million in 2015
Palmer and Fitz $19.6 million and $33.6 million in 2015.*

Looks like we're not alone in this parade.

*from sportrac

All non playoff teams!

 

[Shane]

All non playoff teams!

And all WR's that produce more than Fitz.

 

[BigRedRage]

And all WR's that produce more than Fitz.

none more important to their franchise except maybe megatron.

 

[Shane]

none more important to their franchise except maybe megatron.

Oh Geez. The Cards if and when they part ways with Larry Fitzgerald will be just fine. His production on the field proves that. Not to mention there is likely a good chance the guy remains around the organization in some shape or form upon retirement IMO.

This "whole face of the franchise" is a bit overblown.

How did all of the organizations not just fall into oblivion when all of their "faces" retired or left over the years?

Montana
Favre
Elway
Jim Kelly
Manning(Colts)

I could go on and on. Attrition is a way of life in the NFL including with your star players. Something Larry is right now on reputation only. His play on the field isn't star caliber and hasn't been for about 3 years.

 

[BigRedRage]

Oh Geez. The Cards if and when they part ways with Larry Fitzgerald will be just fine. His production on the field proves that. Not to mention there is likely a good chance the guy remains around the organization in some shape or form upon retirement IMO.

This "whole face of the franchise" is a bit overblown.

How did all of the organizations not just fall into oblivion when all of their "faces" retired or left over the years?

Montana
Favre
Elway
Jim Kelly
Manning(Colts)

I could go on and on. Attrition is a way of life in the NFL including with your star players. Something Larry is right now on reputation only. His play on the field isn't star caliber and hasn't been for about 3 years.

Your barking up the wrong tree, I get it. Fitz just means more to everything going on here than those WRs is all.

He had a pretty good year considering all of the warts involved with our offense. If he doesnt produce at a high 1000+ and 100+ level next year I am sure Keim will address it with paycut or leave type of ultimatums. I highly doubt he can turn in 80 for 1k again and management is going to let him make 22million to keep doing that.

This is a lot of hand wringing over something that isnt worth arguing over.

Just a one liner statement to go in hand with your one liner statement. I should just stay out of the discussion, the topic is irrelevant to me.

Maybe fitz will take 10mil if we give boldin 10mil and reunite the fellas

 

[GuernseyCard]

Oh Geez. The Cards if and when they part ways with Larry Fitzgerald will be just fine. His production on the field proves that. Not to mention there is likely a good chance the guy remains around the organization in some shape or form upon retirement IMO.

This "whole face of the franchise" is a bit overblown.

How did all of the organizations not just fall into oblivion when all of their "faces" retired or left over the years?

Montana
Favre
Elway
Jim Kelly
Manning(Colts)

I could go on and on. Attrition is a way of life in the NFL including with your star players. Something Larry is right now on reputation only. His play on the field isn't star caliber and hasn't been for about 3 years.

Montana was followed by another Hall of Famer, Favre by a potential Hall of Famer; Denver and Buffalo saw lean years after those two left and Manning was replaced by a number one draft pick.

 

[Shane]

Montana was followed by another Hall of Famer, Favre by a potential Hall of Famer; Denver and Buffalo saw lean years after those two left and Manning was replaced by a number one draft pick.

We've seen lean years with Fitz as the face of the franchise as well didn't matter. isn't a position the causes enough impact on a regular enough basis. If a WRis your face of the franchise and the guy you want for your brand and recognition going forward it's probably not a good thing.

 

[Cheesebeef]

We've seen lean years with Fitz as the face of the franchise as well didn't matter. isn't a position the causes enough impact on a regular enough basis. If a WRis your face of the franchise and the guy you want for your brand and recognition going forward it's probably not a good thing.

sadly, this is probably more accurate then anything that's been said in this entire thread.

I love Fitz to death. The guy almost won us a Super Bowl, pretty much singlehandedly. But unless he just goes nuts next year and in some justifies us paying him an outrageous amount of cash, or decides to take a pay cut, his days are numbered here and they probably shake out at around 360 until we have to say thank you and goodbye.

I hope I'm wrong here and will enjoy every last moment I get to watch this guy play.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

http://arizonasports.com/40/1698475/NFLcoms-Schein-Cards-an-interesting-team-

Last Friday, on my SiriusXM Radio show, "Schein on Sports," team president Michael Bidwill succinctly summed up his feelings for the perennial Pro Bowler: "Larry Fitzgerald will be a Cardinal for life. Period."

 

[Jetstream Green]

And all WR's that produce more than Fitz.

Miles Austin sure does not lol

 

[Shane]

http://arizonasports.com/40/1698475/NFLcoms-Schein-Cards-an-interesting-team-

Last Friday, on my SiriusXM Radio show, "Schein on Sports," team president Michael Bidwill succinctly summed up his feelings for the perennial Pro Bowler: "Larry Fitzgerald will be a Cardinal for life. Period."

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Attrition is a way of life in the NFL including with your star players. Something Larry is right now on reputation only. His play on the field isn't star caliber and hasn't been for about 3 years.

Agree. When it's time Larry should be moved. Business is business. And now may be the time if the return is good.

 

[cardpa]

Montana was followed by another Hall of Famer, Favre by a potential Hall of Famer; Denver and Buffalo saw lean years after those two left and Manning was replaced by a number one draft pick

.

The point is they were all faces of their franchise. Doesn't matter what followed them. The average fan base gets attached to the face of the franchise and guess what, they all moved on in a short amount of time. You will always lose some fans when a face departs however you also pick up some too. The majority just drift to another player and get attached. The second most liked guy now moves into the #1 position.

We've seen lean years with Fitz as the face of the franchise as well didn't matter. isn't a position the causes enough impact on a regular enough basis. If a WR is your face of the franchise and the guy you want for your brand and recognition going forward it's probably not a good thing.

Agree with you Shane.

 

[Duckjake]

All non playoff teams!

Manning and Cruz won a Super Bowl just two years ago and who knows who will be a playoff team in 2014.

Speaking of Boldin, since he left the Cardinals he has been the leading WR for teams that have gone 46-18, with 4 playoff appearances and 2 Super Bowls with one Lombardi. That means that Q's teams since 2008 are a combined 65-31 with 6 consecutive playoff appearances and 3 trips to the SB.

He's like the anti-Duckjake jinx.

 

[MadCardDisease]

http://arizonasports.com/40/1698475/NFLcoms-Schein-Cards-an-interesting-team-

Last Friday, on my SiriusXM Radio show, "Schein on Sports," team president Michael Bidwill succinctly summed up his feelings for the perennial Pro Bowler: "Larry Fitzgerald will be a Cardinal for life. Period."

Ten years ago saying you would be a Cardinal for life was like a life sentence. How things have changed in Cardinals land and a lot of the credit needs to go to Michael Bidwill.

 

[Duckjake]

All non playoff teams!

Manning and Cruz won a Super Bowl just two years ago and who knows who will be a playoff team in 2014 or 2015. Drew Brees and Colston 2015 $36 million.

Speaking of Boldin, since he left the Cardinals he has been the leading WR for teams that have gone 46-18, with 4 playoff appearances and 2 Super Bowls with one Lombardi. That means that Q's teams since 2008 are a combined 65-31 with 6 consecutive playoff appearances and 3 trips to the SB.

He's like the anti-Duckjake jinx.

 

[Bodha]

Im getting worried Fitz contract situation is on a collision course with PPs extension.


Im starting to think just cutting him and eating that massive dead money will be the less painful of the oncoming problems. Guys have to realize that he has to get that money eventually. That huge 23 mill cap hit next year isnt going away, all we can do is push it down the line, where it will only get bigger.

cutting him, we save a little.

 

[Buckybird]

Im getting worried Fitz contract situation is on a collision course with PPs extension.


Im starting to think just cutting him and eating that massive dead money will be the less painful of the oncoming problems. Guys have to realize that he has to get that money eventually. That huge 23 mill cap hit next year isnt going away, all we can do is push it down the line, where it will only get bigger.

I have no doubt it's gonna affect the PP situation! At some point the credit card payment on Fitz is gonna come due & it seems there's no way out, unless you're talking to Keim & Michael.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I have no doubt it's gonna affect the PP situation! At some point the credit card payment on Fitz is gonna come due & it seems there's no way out, unless you're talking to Keim & Michael.

That is exactly why we will be drafting that USC kid at WR when our pick comes around and we will rip that #81 from Jimmy Dray and there will be joy in Muddville