Per Schefter: Fitzgerald to sign 8 yr. $120 mil. contract

[82CardsGrad]

People always say this and I find it odd.

Because two years later the contract ends up looking cheap, after the cap rises 20% and there are 20 other players who aren't as good with similar contracts.

Every generation or so, a team is blessed to have captured "that" player. The one who no price tag could ever be enough. No matter the position. No matter the amount of $$. The Colts got theirs with Manning. The Pats with Brady. The 9ers had two in Montana and Rice. The Yankees with Jeter. The Bulls had Jordan. Lakers with Kobe.
Players who simply transcend the normal context of a pro sports athlete. The truth is, the Cards could have easily watched Larry walk away... There was a long line of other teams willing to give Larry this money, if not more. It's wonderful to see Mikey B step up and take one for the TEAM. Fitz is the face of the Cardinals, on and off the field. There's serious benefits accrued to this team as a result.
From a strict practical perspective, if not now, when? If the Cards hadn't done this, hadn't made the move they should've made. Hadn't locked up the single best player to ever wear a Cards jersey. A guy who, right now... at this very moment is in his prime... when would they ever make this type of move? When would they ever make such a brash statement that they WANT to win?

Truth is, this is a move a huge number of other sports franchises would've made, and have made in the past. FINALLY - it's AWESOME to see the Cards make that move!!!

 

[Mitch]

Every generation or so, a team is blessed to have captured "that" player. The one who no price tag could ever be enough. No matter the position. No matter the amount of $$. The Colts got theirs with Manning. The Pats with Brady. The 9ers had two in Montana and Rice. The Yankees with Jeter. The Bulls had Jordan. Lakers with Kobe.
Players who simply transcend the normal context of a pro sports athlete. The truth is, the Cards could ave easily watched Larry walk away... There was a long line of other teams willing to give Larry this money, if not more. It's wonderful to see Mikey B step up and take one for the TEAM. Fitz is the face of the Cardinals, on and off the field. There's serious benefits accrued to this team as a result.
From a strict practical perspective, if not now, when? If the Cards hadn't done this, hadn't made the move they should've made. Hadn't locked up the single best player to ever wear a Cards jersey. A guy who, right now... at this very moment is in his prime... when would they ever make this type of move? When would they ever make such a brash statement that they WANT to win?

Truth is, this is a move a huge number of other sports franchises would've made, and have made in the past. FINALLY - it's AWESOME to see the Cards make that move!!!

Well said, 82. The Cardinals are paying for elite leadership and there is no price tag on that.

 

[TheHopToad]

I'm guessing Desean Jackson also has a smile on his face right now. He's no Fitz, but in his mind, he isn't far off.

He's smiling because he knows that if the Eagles put the franchise tag on him and have to pay him the average of the top 5 WR salaries, that average just went up significantly.

Larry just did DJ and other top wideouts a huge favor...

 

[az jam]

I love the move and am happy that Fitz will be a Card for life. He is a class person and an outstanding player. With Fitz its all about team and winning. When the Cards went to the Super Bowl with Warner at qb, Fitz broke all the receiving records. He was unstoppable. If Kolb becomes the player we hope, we will have an outstanding offense for many years.
Hats off the Michael Bidwill!!!!

 

[Seandonic]

The Cardinals are paying for elite leadership and there is no price tag on that.

^This is what it boils down to for me.^

 

[Treefiddy]

Well said, 82. The Cardinals are paying for elite leadership and there is no price tag on that.

120 million is a pretty nice price tag.

 

[Jetstream Green]

FANTASTIC...it is about time the Cardinals set the mark on what the top player at a position should be paid. If they would have not paid him what they did, I have a strong feeling he would got basically the same from some other team at the end of the season and we would have lost one of those players that seldom grace the field.

 

[Redsz]

Fantastic news!

Larry Fitzgerald is our franchise player. He explifies everything we want the Cardinals to be (on and off the field) and that carries a big price tag in the NFL.

Great job Cardinals!

 

[seesred]

Thanks to Mr. Micheal Bidwill. Special thanks to the great Larry Fitzgerald. It's a great day to be a Cards fan.....For all who keep calling our owners cheap time to say your sorry!

GBR
40

 

[AZ Native]

SOC

 

[Treefiddy]

Oh, no one has said it yet:

:championship:

 

[Stallion]

This is worth dusting off my keyboard to post. Great news!

GO CARDS!

 

[TigToad]

Cap-wise, I'm trying to figure out what this means to us.

I think, and this is a big unsure, that teams can put bonuses all in the first year, over the first two years, or over 6 years. If most of the 50 mil guaranteed is bonus-type money, they could put it over 2 years and have the affect of using their cap space for this year (the 11 mil Larry counted, plus the 14 mil in space we had). It would damage our free-agency next year and leave no money for this year (though really, the Bidwill's have to be short on cash right now to pay out for signing bonuses anyway). However, it would make years 3+ of Larry's deal very cap friendly and allow another big move in 2 years.

Otherwise, if this is a straight 15 mil/year and only eats up about 3-4 mil/year more than he already did... thats not that bad. We'd have 10 mil to use this year if the team wished.

 

[rode kardinaal]

But what I really want to know.....

Can he be franchised in 8 years time?

 

[Fitz Rulz]

the good thing here is now we are not worried he'll leave if Kolb tanks
let's enjoy the season

 

[Duckjake]

If smart teams don't pay WRs how did the Colts manage to keep Marvin Harrison for 13 seasons? Along with Reggie Wayne for 8 of those 13 and Peyton Manning for 11 of them?

Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, and Reggie Wayne together for 8 years! That's some good management.

 

[BigRedFan]

While I'm happy he's staying, still too much for the position, and why does it need to be 50% greater than Andre Johnson's last year when he has been the leading receiver the past few years? They could have gotten away offering a lot less and still have him as the highest paid receiver.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

That's possible but they haven't been negotiated yet.

The economy isn't doing the best, I'm not so sure they'll skyrocket like that.

When Rome was on its last legs, they'll still filled the Colosseum!

 

[Crazy Canuck]

While I'm happy he's staying, still too much for the position, and why does it need to be 50% greater than Andre Johnson's last year when he has been the leading receiver the past few years? They could have gotten away offering a lot less and still have him as the highest paid receiver.

Really!

Says who?

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Well said, 82. The Cardinals are paying for elite leadership and there is no price tag on that.

Evidently there is...

 

[Garthshort]

And we'll be paying even more for WR's (collectively) in a couple of years when we have to sign our #2 guy, DeMarco Sampson, to a new contract.

 

[Cardiac]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroticism

Only explanation I can think of.

 

[joeshmo]

While I'm happy he's staying, still too much for the position, and why does it need to be 50% greater than Andre Johnson's last year when he has been the leading receiver the past few years? They could have gotten away offering a lot less and still have him as the highest paid receiver.

Two different CBA's, which means contracts are not comparable.

Age is a factor - Larry is 27, AJ is 30. Which means you either pay a premium to get Larry to sign an 8 year deal, or you pay cheap and have him be a free agent again in 4 years and have to pay him yet again at the still prime age of 31, 4 years later when contracts are much bigger. You probably actually save money by doing the 8 year deal now compared to two 4 year deals later.

 

[SuperSpck]

Whoot. Thanks to the team, ownership, and every one who made this happen.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Fitz will retire a cardinal (or atleast play his best years here) and thats all that matters...

Whether we over paid? Can you really over pay for a reciever who has the possibility of being the greatest reciever to play the game? Don't laugh he is on track to break Rices record, at this point...

I'm. So. Happy!