After reports of Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald getting a contract extension surfaced on Thursday, it was made official early Friday
That didn’t take long. The reports were true on Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald signing a contract extension.
News broke very early Friday morning that Fitz did in fact sign a one-year contract extension for the 2018 season. While it doesn’t officially mean Fitz is coming back for sure in 2018, it is a step in that direction.
Fitz has maintained all along he won’t make a decision to retire or return until after the season. He’s not going to make a huge announcement about it either when the time comes.
You’d have to surmise though why would he sign an extension if his intent wasn’t to return. Now he would count towards the 2018 team salary cap.
The comments on his return were mostly happy ones. Some fans of teams other than the Cardinals and even some Cardinals fans have suggested Fitz needs or should leave Arizona for a chance to win a ring.
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Some have gone as far as suggesting the Cardinals should let him go. Here’s the problem with that. He doesn’t want to play anywhere else. He has said that on more than one occassion.
People complain he’s being loyal. Yes, you can look at it that way but he means it when he says he enjoys living and playing in Arizona. This is the only organization he knows.
At this point in his career for as long he’s been in Arizona, while moving to another team may give him a better chance to win it also is no guarantee. There are no guarantees what will happen one way or the other if he stays here.
The window may still be open for a Super Bowl if quarterback Carson Palmer decides to return. Palmer is already under contract for 2018.
The Cardinals will also likely draft a quarterback this spring. The future needs to be addressed. General manager Steve Keim has said they would prefer to draft a quarterback than find one on open market or via trade.
Don’t expect further information on Fitz’s 2018 status anytime soon. It may be January or February before we know for sure. This however is a step in the right direction towards playing one more year.