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Fitzgerald, Cards no closer to new deal
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 27, 2008 09:54 PM
It appears the Cardinals will enter the waters of free agency with a large anchor attached to their legs.
NFL free agency begins at 10 p.m. Thursday, and the club is not close to reaching an agreement to restructure the contract of receiver Larry Fitzgerald, whose $14.6 million salary promises to restrict the Cardinals' movement in free agency.
The two sides remain apart on years and money, according to sources. The Cardinals' original offer was a six-year deal, while Fitzgerald's agent, Eugene Parker, prefers a four-year term. Under Parker's deal, the fourth year included a huge salary, which would force the sides to return to the bargaining table after three years.
Fitzgerald is only 24, so a four-year deal would put him in line for another huge payday while still in his prime.
The Cardinals don't want to pay huge money and be in the same position three years from now, so they rejected Parker's offer, and it is believed that the sides are discussing a five-year deal.
According to team sources, the Cardinals' proposal would make Fitzgerald the highest-paid player in team history and among the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the league.
No specifics have been given to confirm that assertion.
Parker, following his usual custom, did not return phone calls. General Manager Rod Graves did not return a message.
Fitzgerald hit incentives that increased his salary to $14.6 million this year and $17.4 million in 2009. Those exorbitant salaries were designed to force the two sides back to the bargaining table, should Fitzgerald become a great player.
He's done that, making two Pro Bowls in four years.
Parker has considerable leverage in the deal, considering his client is due to make $14.6 million this year under the old pact. But a new deal that includes in excess of $25 million in guarantees might be hard to reject.
That's because Fitzgerald is scheduled to be with the team in 2009 at a salary of $17.4 million. The club would try to trade him, or cut him, before it paid that much. That money is not guaranteed, so Fitzgerald wouldn't receive it if he were to be cut or traded.
No team would trade for Fitzgerald unless it could get him to agree to a new contract.
For the Cardinals, that decision is a long way off. Graves has said several times that the team can accommodate Fitzgerald's salary this year.
But that won't be easy. Under Fitzgerald's current pact, the Cardinals would not have the cap space to do much in free agency, Graves has said, and some of their current players might be faced with taking pay cuts or being released.
The Cardinals have made the point to Parker and Fitzgerald. Coach Ken Whisenhunt reportedly met with Fitzgerald recently and told him that the team's off-season plans hinged on the restructuring.
Through this process, Fitzgerald has said all the right things. He loves playing in Arizona, he said, and wants to help the Cardinals win.
Cardinals officials view the current negotiations as a test of Fitzgerald's sincerity. They aren't asking Fitzgerald to accept a deal below his market value, they have said, but a restructured one that would free them to search for help in free agency and to re-sign their own players.
Outside linebacker Calvin Pace is expected to draw some attention from other teams, including the 49ers. Unless Fitzgerald restructures, the Cardinals would have a hard time retaining Pace.
Note
The Cardinals offered a low tender to offensive lineman Elton Brown, a restricted free agent. The offer is for $927,000 and gives the Cardinals the right to match an offer Brown might receive in free agency. If they choose not to match, the Cardinals would receive a fourth-round pick in return.
The Cardinals did not extend a tender offer to outside linebacker Darryl Blackstock, a third-round draft pick in 2005, making him an unrestricted free agent. Blackstock's agent, Brad Blank, said the Cardinals told him they couldn't afford to tender Blackstock because of the cap situation created by Fitzgerald's contract and efforts to re-sign Pace.
Blackstock has been a disappointment with the Cardinals but played better toward the end of the season.
There was no word on the tenders that the team offered to their other restricted free agents, including cornerback Eric Green and defensive end Antonio Smith, both starters
Fitzgerald, Cards no closer to new deal
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 27, 2008 09:54 PM
It appears the Cardinals will enter the waters of free agency with a large anchor attached to their legs.
NFL free agency begins at 10 p.m. Thursday, and the club is not close to reaching an agreement to restructure the contract of receiver Larry Fitzgerald, whose $14.6 million salary promises to restrict the Cardinals' movement in free agency.
The two sides remain apart on years and money, according to sources. The Cardinals' original offer was a six-year deal, while Fitzgerald's agent, Eugene Parker, prefers a four-year term. Under Parker's deal, the fourth year included a huge salary, which would force the sides to return to the bargaining table after three years.
Fitzgerald is only 24, so a four-year deal would put him in line for another huge payday while still in his prime.
The Cardinals don't want to pay huge money and be in the same position three years from now, so they rejected Parker's offer, and it is believed that the sides are discussing a five-year deal.
According to team sources, the Cardinals' proposal would make Fitzgerald the highest-paid player in team history and among the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the league.
No specifics have been given to confirm that assertion.
Parker, following his usual custom, did not return phone calls. General Manager Rod Graves did not return a message.
Fitzgerald hit incentives that increased his salary to $14.6 million this year and $17.4 million in 2009. Those exorbitant salaries were designed to force the two sides back to the bargaining table, should Fitzgerald become a great player.
He's done that, making two Pro Bowls in four years.
Parker has considerable leverage in the deal, considering his client is due to make $14.6 million this year under the old pact. But a new deal that includes in excess of $25 million in guarantees might be hard to reject.
That's because Fitzgerald is scheduled to be with the team in 2009 at a salary of $17.4 million. The club would try to trade him, or cut him, before it paid that much. That money is not guaranteed, so Fitzgerald wouldn't receive it if he were to be cut or traded.
No team would trade for Fitzgerald unless it could get him to agree to a new contract.
For the Cardinals, that decision is a long way off. Graves has said several times that the team can accommodate Fitzgerald's salary this year.
But that won't be easy. Under Fitzgerald's current pact, the Cardinals would not have the cap space to do much in free agency, Graves has said, and some of their current players might be faced with taking pay cuts or being released.
The Cardinals have made the point to Parker and Fitzgerald. Coach Ken Whisenhunt reportedly met with Fitzgerald recently and told him that the team's off-season plans hinged on the restructuring.
Through this process, Fitzgerald has said all the right things. He loves playing in Arizona, he said, and wants to help the Cardinals win.
Cardinals officials view the current negotiations as a test of Fitzgerald's sincerity. They aren't asking Fitzgerald to accept a deal below his market value, they have said, but a restructured one that would free them to search for help in free agency and to re-sign their own players.
Outside linebacker Calvin Pace is expected to draw some attention from other teams, including the 49ers. Unless Fitzgerald restructures, the Cardinals would have a hard time retaining Pace.
Note
The Cardinals offered a low tender to offensive lineman Elton Brown, a restricted free agent. The offer is for $927,000 and gives the Cardinals the right to match an offer Brown might receive in free agency. If they choose not to match, the Cardinals would receive a fourth-round pick in return.
The Cardinals did not extend a tender offer to outside linebacker Darryl Blackstock, a third-round draft pick in 2005, making him an unrestricted free agent. Blackstock's agent, Brad Blank, said the Cardinals told him they couldn't afford to tender Blackstock because of the cap situation created by Fitzgerald's contract and efforts to re-sign Pace.
Blackstock has been a disappointment with the Cardinals but played better toward the end of the season.
There was no word on the tenders that the team offered to their other restricted free agents, including cornerback Eric Green and defensive end Antonio Smith, both starters
