I might be the only one here on the board that thinks this , but I truly believe that Larry is going to get the big ring come February . Then it will be interesting to see if he can overcome his pride and stay . Last off-season big contract guys like Revis , and Peppers took paycuts joining their new teams , I'm hoping that Larry takes one and stays a Cardinal .
I believe this also, regarding the first part. Though I will say I had this same sense and feeling regarding the Suns with Barkley that whole year and they ended up losing to Jordan's Bulls. There are similarities in the locker-room talk and especially the confidence level but the Suns really didn't have great coaching and I believe these Cardinals do.
That being said, fans hopes are crushed every year, no matter what they think or feel. Most fans come away disappointed. All fans except one teams hopes are destroyed.
It would be a shame for that to happen to this team IMO, because I think what they have in that locker-room and the way they feel about BA is special and hard to reproduce. Doesn't mean they won't lose though. I still think talent wins games.
Coaching matters though. Way more than I thought it did in today's NFL.
Regarding the 2nd part of your post about Larry, he's so hard to read because he's so politically correct all the time. He played with Adub though and you have to wonder if that had an effect.
I remember an article a few seasons back saying that after practice he and Adub met at midfield and met helmet to helmet and had a long conversation like that after everyone had left.
Fitz has made a lot of money. I have to think moments like that matter. I have to believe a locker room like they have now matters.
I could be wrong obviously, wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last, maybe he just wants to get paid again or catch a lot of balls, and I wouldn't blame him for that.
But I think when he says he just wants to win he means it. And I think he has a better chance here than rolling the dice off season.