Trade Deadline: The Deals Arizona Cardinals Will Not Make
By Scott Allen
Oct 27, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) looks on during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals have been subject of trade rumors, mainly swirling around receiver Larry Fitzgerald, over the past couple of weeks. Many have said he is past his prime but there is still time for the Cards to trade him while he has excellent return value. Others, like me, have said no way, you don’t trade Fitzgerald no matter what. He means too much to the franchise.
Now, no one is immune from being traded. We’ve seen it with many stars who are at the end of careers. However, Fitz is not one of those guys. He’s 30 years old, in his 10th season. He easily still has four or five years left. Sure he gets paid a lot but he’s earned it with past performance.
Performance, that has been a case for the trade. People say he can flourish with a quarterback on a winning team and get to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Just who will that be though? Kansas City? Seattle? New Orleans? He would never be traded especially to a division foe. New Orleans has a good core of receivers already. Kansas City might be an option but they seem to be doing fine without him.
I just can’t see it getting done, especially now that Cards General Manager Steve Keim has come out and said that they want Fitz to finish his career in Arizona. He has not had one single call in regards to Fitz. That doesn’t surprise me. Teams know what it would take to get him. It’s still too much. I think many fans would revolt if it happened.
Then the other possible deal I’ve seen people mention the Cards in the same breath is Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez. Mostly the rumors are him going to Kansas City. However the Cards do need help at tight end. Honestly though, I can’t see him going anywhere. A couple of weeks ago the media addressed the trade rumors to him and he said it wouldn’t happen. He came back for Atlanta and Atlanta only, no matter how they play. With only eight games left in his career, I don’t blame him. I can’t see Atlanta going against his wishes and trading him. Whatever they’d get in return would do them no good. There’s no need for him to start over with a half a season left in his career. Don’t expect the Cards to land him.