He's great, but he's not worth 120 million with 50 guaranteed especially at 28 years old. ______ Cards sign Larry Fitzgerald through '18 The Arizona Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald have agreed to an eight-year deal that could pay the star receiver as much as $120 million, making it one of the richest deals in the NFL. The agreement, with guarantees near $50 million, is by far the biggest in the franchise's history and could keep the star receiver with the team through the 2018 season. The six additional years after 2012 would be worth $17 million each. The $15 million average would tie him with the Raiders' Richard Seymour for the fifth-highest average among all players. The top four players are all quarterbacks. Fitzgerald and team president Michael Bidwill appeared at a hastily called news conference Saturday night to announce the agreement. Fitzgerald insisted he "hates this part of sports," but he certainly has made a boatload of money. This is the third major contract he has signed, and he doesn't turn 28 until Aug. 31. "Growing up, since I was 7 years old, this has been the game I love and something I have been so passionate about," Fitzgerald said, "and to have to talk about it on the business side is a little bit uncomfortable. But I am really happy to put it behind us and it wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the Bidwill family's hard work in making this thing happen." The Cardinals had said they wanted Fitzgerald's new contract wrapped up by the start of the regular season, and they made it with two weeks to spare. Bidwill, son of the team's owner Bill Bidwill, said the Cardinals' intent is to have Fitzgerald retire as a Cardinal "but not anytime soon." Fitzgerald, the third overall park in the 2004 draft at the age of 19, spoke of the opportunity to spend his entire career with one team. "It is an honor," he said. "I am so fortunate. Not many players have that opportunity but Michael has allowed me that opportunity and I just want to repay him with great effort and winning. That is what is important." The 6-foot-3, 218-pound receiver has become the franchise's career leader in receptions with 613 and needs just 294 yards to surpass Roy Green for career yards receiving. In Arizona's surprise run to the Super Bowl in the 2008 season, Fitzgerald shattered most of the NFL playoff receiving records. Fitzgerald has topped 1,000 yards receiving in five of his seven NFL seasons, including the last four. He caught 90 passes for 1,137 yards last season even though Arizona had one of the worst offenses in the league while struggling to a 5-11 record, in large part because of poor quarterback play in the wake of the retirement of Kurt Warner. While Fitzgerald said he never insisted the team make a big move for a quarterback -- "I am not anyone to hold a hammer over anyone's head" -- the Cardinals traded for Kevin Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles, then signed him to a five-year, $63 million contract, with $21 million guaranteed. Fitzgerald, who organized team workouts during the lockout, had a practice session with Kolb long before the trade. It is not known whether the deal contains the kind of terms that gave him huge leverage over the team under its current deal -- specifically a ban on making him a franchise player and a no-trade clause. The contract could have widespread ramifications around the NFL, particularly in the case of running back Chris Johnson, who is holding out for a new deal with the Tennessee Titans. Johnson tweeted "congratulations to @LarryFitzgerald god is good" and Fitzgerald responded with "thanks CJ you up next my guy." link
This was the only way the Cardinals were going to keep him. They found a QB to make him happy, strike while the iron is hot. Why shouldn't he make big money? He's arguably the best receiver in the league.
He deserves a big pay day but not QB money... he's definitely top five, but if Kolb doesn't work out that's a lot of change on one guy on a crappy team. The Texans are going to love this contract when Andre needs to be re-signed.
It is the nature of a team desperately trying to hold onto a key cog. The main reason Asomugha skewered the entire market a few seasons ago. Plus I'd be willing to bet they backloaded the **** out of the deal to save cap room over the next 2 seasons. This is still an NFL contract, you could be cut the next season and end up making beans. Look at Albert Haynesworth.
He's a clear cut top 2 receiver in the NFL. #1 in my opinion. This contract is not insane. He had the cardnials a play a way from a super bowl win a few years ago and that team was basically the worst team in the league last year when you had nobody to get him the ball & he had some injury issues. I would say he's THAT important to the success of the team.
He's going to end up an all-time great. Make him a Cardinal for life. I have no problem with that contract.
Glad AJ chose last year to renegotiate his contract. AJ makes slightly more in guaranteed money (which is about on par with other elite WRs).
28 ain't bad for a receiver. Especially guys like Fitz that take care of their body. He'll be a top 5 receiver until hes 35 easy.
If you are down to one play there isn't a receiver I would pick over him. He is going to catch the ball.
Who??? DeSean is not at the same level as Johnson, Fitzgerald and C. Johnson. Those are the elite receivers in the league in my view.
Saw it briefly last night on NFL network. Desean tweeted something like Congrats to my boy Larry Fitzgerald, wide receivers getting paid. Larry retweeted it saying thanks, you're up next. It was something like that. Edit all Larry said was thanks. He said you're up next to Chris Johnson. Sorry pun.
Lol <!-- http://twitter.com/#!/LarryFitzgerald/status/105131547996323841 --> <style type='text/css'>.bbpBox105131547996323841 {background:url(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_background_images/64491638/Fitzgerald_Banner2.jpg) #9AE4E8;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block}</style> <div class='bbpBox105131547996323841'><p class='bbpTweet'>You are a clown man lol. How you doing? RT @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/shawnemerriman" rel="nofollow">shawnemerriman</a>: On a side note congrats @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/LarryFitzgerald" rel="nofollow">LarryFitzgerald</a> for signing a deal with Bank of America<span class='timestamp'><a title='Sun Aug 21 04:18:08 +0000 2011' href='http://twitter.com/#!/LarryFitzgerald/status/105131547996323841'>less than a minute ago</a> via <a href="http://ubersocial.com" rel="nofollow">UberSocial for BlackBerry</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=105131547996323841'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png' /> Favorite</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=105131547996323841'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png' /> Retweet</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=105131547996323841'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png' /> Reply</a></span><span class='metadata'><span class='author'><a href='http://twitter.com/LarryFitzgerald'><img src='http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1370679428/300417910_normal.jpg' /></a><strong><a href='http://twitter.com/LarryFitzgerald'>Larry Fitzgerald</a></strong><br/>LarryFitzgerald</span></span></p></div> <!-- end of tweet -->
think you're thinking of chris johnson. he tweeted congrats to fitzgerald and fitz told him thanks, you're up next
