Short of something they can’t refuse, the Arizona Cardinals need to ignore any offers made to them for the great Larry Fitzgerald
There’s a good chance that the Arizona Cardinals may have fielded a phone call or two in recent days. That tends to happen when you have a player that other clubs covet, and the trade deadline is rapidly approaching. In this case however, many Cards’ loyalists are hoping that those calls are completely ignored by general manager Steve Keim.
Larry Fitzgerald is one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. Even at 34 years of age, the future Hall of Famer is still a valuable commodity. That’s amazing, taking into account that the pass-catcher is currently playing in his 14th professional campaign.
Despite the longevity, “Fitz” is still performing at a high level. His 45 receptions place him third in the league (first in the NFC) in receptions after seven weeks. He’s coming off of two excellent prior seasons as well, snatching 107 balls last year and 109 in 2015.
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For all of these reasons and more, it’s probably safe to assume that teams have inquired about the Cardinals’ great. Unless Fitzgerald has requested a trade himself, management shouldn’t even be considering such a move. Pro athletes playing their whole career in one place is a rare thing these days, and it would be nice if the 10-time Pro Bowler could join such a distinguished group.
As unrealistic as it may seem, Arizona is still very much alive in the race for the NFC West title. Trading away one of his best players would not make the head coach very happy. Making such a move would be like admitting the season is over, and giving up is certainly not a part of Bruce Arians’ DNA.
What hasn’t been mentioned in this piece is the public relations nightmare that would accompany a trade of Fitzgerald. With the present state of the team, that’s something that Keim and the franchise can’t really afford right now. Rest easy Cards’ fans, logic says that the most popular player ever to catch a pigskin in the desert will be staying right where he belongs.