Veteran WR Larry Fitzgerald tells Jace Frederick of the Pioneer Press that if he returns for the 2019 season, it would only to be to play for the Cardinals.
“If I’m not playing in Arizona, I won’t be playing anywhere,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve built a good life for myself down there. Playing in the same place for 15 years is a true blessing.”
Fitzgerald explained that being a certain age won’t impact whether he’ll return next year and it really comes down to how well he’s playing.
“It doesn’t really matter about the age, it’s about what you put into it and your mind-set,” Fitzgerald said. “Everybody kind of takes numbers and assumes this is when it’s supposed to end. As an athlete, fortunately, you write your own script. If you still produce and you play at a high level, you kind of determine how long you want to play. If I can stay at a high level, I still keep destiny in my own hands.”
Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic reported a month ago that there have been “tiny whispers” in and around the Cardinals’ organization that Fitzgerald might be open to playing beyond the 2018 season.
New Cardinals HC Steve Wilks said that he would “love” to have Fitzgerald back with the team.
“I think really that’s a question for him, but I would love to have him back,” Wilks said. “As I’ve said earlier, next year and maybe even a year after that.”
McManaman explains that there are a few reasons why sticking around could make sense for Fitzgerald including the fact that the Cardinals have multiple quarterbacks who can get him the ball including a quarterback of the future in Josh Rosen.
Beyond that, Fitzgerald hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down in recent years and the team could be better positioned to make a Super Bowl run after this season.
Fitzgerald, 34, is a former first-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2004. He agreed to renegotiate his seven-year $113 million contract and signed a two-year, $22 million deal with Arizona that was fully guaranteed included a no-trade clause back in 2015.
However, Fitzgerald has received a few one-year extensions over the past few years that have kept him with the Cardinals.
In 2017, Fitzgerald appeared in 14 games and caught 92 receptions for 982 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 12 receiver out of 115 qualifying players.
We have him featured in our Top 25 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.
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