DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Larry Fitzgerald anyone?

Just send him straight to Cleveland. Don't even bother giftwrapping him. He'd be a perfect late Christmas gift after this season is over.

The only thing I don't know about is trading a "1st rounder plus" for him. He is an incredible talent though.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/21/larry-fitzgerald-may-not-be-long-for-arizona/

Larry Fitzgerald may not be long for Arizona
Posted by Mike Florio on November 21, 2010, 11:03 AM EST


As the Cardinals slump, thanks to a quarterback succession plan that didn’t include success in the planning, their biggest star is getting frustrated.

And we think it’s only a matter of time before receiver Larry Fitzgerald tries to get out.

Though he has a knack for saying all the right things, Fitzgerald’s tact is beginning to show cracks. Earlier this week, Fitzgerald gushed about the impact that former Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley (now the head coach of the Chiefs, today’s Arizona opponent) on Fitzgerald’s career, prompting some to think that Fitzgerald already is thinking about a reunion.

Regardless of where Fitzgerald may want to play, it’s looking more and more like he won’t want to stay in Arizona.

“It’s definitely difficult to deal with,” Fitzgerald said of the team’s current fate, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. “You go home and you can’t escape it. You turn the TV on and [it's], ‘The Cardinals lost four in a row.’”
But hasn’t Fitzgerald already endured that during the lean years that preceded 2008?
“I had never won on this level before,” Fitzgerald said regarding the team’s not-too-distant history of losing. “I’ve tasted the caviar now, so eating out of the garbage is not where I want to be.”
(What’s wrong with eating out of the garbage?)

Though most players not named Randy Moss can’t just talk their way out of town, Fitzgerald is in the third season of a four-year deal executed at a time when leverage from the big-money back end of his rookie deal allowed him to obtain $40 million over four years and a commitment that the Cardinals won’t use the franchise tag once the contract expires after the 2011 season.

In fact, the Cardinals would be wise to consider moving Fitzgerald in the offseason for a first-rounder-plus package that would give them something on which to build, in lieu of seeing Larry finish out his contract and walk away for no compensation.

He's the same age as vincent jackson. We'd could probabally get jackson for cheaper price.

Vincent Jackson is no Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is more talented, and doesn't have the character (and suspension) concerns a Jackson carries with him.

The one big, huge, enormous difference that jumps out looking at their stats is this:

In 7 seasons, Fitzgerald has 63 TD catches.

In 5 years, Jackson has 25 TD catches.

Both guys are big, strong WRs. Both can use their bodies well in space. I worry about another big suspension with Jackson. I would definitely trade for him if the price was a low 3rd or less. I do not think that I would trade a 1st or 2nd for him.

If Larry Fitzgerald is available, he isn't...yet, then he will choose where he wants to go.

He has one year left on his contract and can't be franchised.

So if the Cardinals says, "Hey Larry, we traded you to the Browns, and they'll give you a long term deal."

He then says, "I don't want to go to the Browns, and if you trade me there I won't sign long term."

If he was willing to go to Cleveland I would give up our 1st rounder for him (and probably more) in a heartbeat. He is a high character, high talent (probably top 2 in the league), hard working player who is in the prime of his career.

There is one way Fitzgerald would come here...

We pull off a cinderalla story like the NY Jets did last year, and make a huge comeback, finish 9-7 or 8-8, luck into the playoffs, and fall just short of the Super Bowl.

But I don't see that happening, so no worries. If we want a legit WR, you'll have to draft one. That requires using a 1st Rounder on a sure fire pick.

I believe one legit WR would help MoMass.

I would trade a first for Fitz tomorrow. Easy, no brainer.

Absolutely, as long as we can sign him to a 4 yr deal. How could he not be worth a first round pick?

The thing that helps us is that McCoy looks like the real deal, and the Browns have been getting a ton of positive press as a team on the rise.

If you are a young WR in search of a new home, you probably want:

A QB
A definite opening
A solid TE/Running game to take some pressure off of you


I would guess that having a talented and established front office and Head Coach doesn't hurt either, and whether some posters like it or not, even Mangini is starting to get some positive national press. Heckert and Holmgren are already well known names.

Part of downside is , in the end, you hand him to Daboll. And no reason to believe it will get better unless the offensive scheme changes. Back to back losses, tight games, and he can't get enough points even after the insane number of turnovers. Hate his playcalling. He is crippling us by what he chooses not to run. And let's work out receivers and corners.

On the other hand .... we have no WR of any note right now, so how do you call plays that stand no chance of working when you know that your WRs can't win their routes?

I mean, the OC could call tons of deep routes .... but if the WRs can't get open, what good would it do? (Other than to make some posters feel better ... until they complained that the OC was calling too many routes that weren't working)

I remember earlier this season, when Wallace was overthrowing everyone on deep go routes ... and people kept asking ...... "Why does he keep calling those routes .....?"

Fans are fickle. lol When play calls work, the guy is "starting to come around". As soon as we have a rough game ..... "He's a bum!".

Heckert... WORK YOUR MAGIC AND GET THIS MAN HERE!!! if we can get him for a 3rd round pick, get him here!! And still draft AJ Green, or Julio Jones in the 1st round...

A 3rd round pick? Hell, I'd do that in a heartbeat. I'd probably do 2 3rd round picks if I could get a long term deal with him.

This team is a couple of difference makers away from being 6-4 or even 7-3.

If we make 1 or 2 catches on offense that were not made .... if we get to the QB 1 or 2 of the times that we were so damned close to being there .... then this whole season turns around.

I don't know who we're going to find in free agency that can, or will fill those roles.

Giving this more thought, I would even give up a 2nd for him. Hell, we could get a premiere pass rusher and Larry Fitzgerald ... then maybe add another complimentary WR in free agency ..... and another pass rushing DL. Pick up another developmental OL in a middle of the draft ......

Yeah ... I think I'd do that happily.

I'd LOVE to have Fitzgerald here, hell, I wanted Boldin here, but I think the price tag will be too expensive for this admin at this point in time. If he somehow ends up here, not only will I be shocked out of my shoes, I'll be walking on sunshine.

j/c

some people really make me laugh. Its typical though, overvalue your own players and undervalue another teams. Larry is worth 2 first rounders and then some. Too say otherwise is borderline dilusional. Kind of reminds me when packer fans figured we would send them Joe Thomas for crap.

The recent going rate for wideouts (3+4 for Boldin, 2+2 for Marshall, 3 for Moss) make it seem like probably 2 2's (or a 2 and a 3) and a defensive starter would probably be what it takes. Maybe a late 1, a 3, and a defensive starter.

Quote:

---

Part of downside is , in the end, you hand him to Daboll

---

Here's a thought, maybe if Daboll had a Legit #1 Receiver, the scheme Would be different. JMHO Go Brownies!!!

Fitz is one of the "few" guys i would be willing to give a 1st rd pick for (yes forgoing D Front 7 in the 1st rd of the draft) Fitz is a premier WR,...if we can get Fitz, we can go D in the 2nd rd

I would easily give up a 1st or a 2nd or even a 2nd and a 3rd for Larry...the guy is bona fide premier WR...he would make our O a ton better.

stupid PFT.

Look, Fitz is one of the best guys in the league and one of the best players. You don't get that combination very often.

And, that's why the Cardinals would never trade them unless they absolutely had to and why Fitz wouldn't ask for that trade.

Fitz may leave when his FA time comes, but I would highly, highly doubt that he would ever actually ask to be traded.



(and yeah, I'd give up a 1st round and more to get him in Cleveland long term no questions asked)

fitz is a good fit for anyone but yeah with the browns he'd be perfect. talent + character. it goes well with everyone else on the team.

but the asking price is going to be too much. i really think we have too many needs to be giving up picks for a guy like that.

I disagree.

Unless it gets ridiculous and out of control, I don't think the asking price will be too much. Draft picks are valuable in the NFL, but if you can get proven top-tier talent (Fitz is, arguably, the best (#1 overall, nobody better) receiver in the league right now), you get him.

People were talking about selling out our past draft to get Bradford. I don't agree with doing that, but if you can make that case to get Bradford, you can definitely make that case to get Fitz.

Edit: I can't argue that we need the picks, but if we can land Fitz for our #1 and #3, I'd take that deal every day. I think Fitz would dramatically change our offense more than anyone we could grab in the draft with our 1st and 3rd.

Why would he want to come here? Only 4 teams have a worse record then thr Browns...and the Cards aren't one of them and he's unhappy there....we'd be bottom 3rd on his wish list too...forget it

j/c

dallas traded a 1st, a 3rd, a 6th, and a 7th to detroit for roy williams, then gave him a 45 million contract with 20 million guaranteed. it will take way more than that to both trade for and then sign fitz. getting fitz is a pipe dream and would severely hurt the development of the team. not to mention,

there is absolutely no reason for him to want to come here. i mean what receiver wouldn't want to join a run-first system that works the middle of the field with the TEs. he sees how many catches momass/robo have and would just laugh.

I agree probably with your opinion on giving up the farm to get him, but there's a reason we use the middle of the field with tight ends.... we don't have a Fitzgerald-type talent at WR, or anything close to it.

Just a thought for everyone. Though I hate to say it, New England seems like a perfect landing spot for Fitz. They have a ton of picks and could put together a much better package than we could, a great QB that the FO will want to capitalize on while they still can, and he is pretty much the prototypical NE player. That offense could reach 2007 levels with Fitz, Welker, Woodhead, Hernandez, Gronkowski, Green-Ellis, etc. They will probably still draft a RB in the first two rounds as well. While I would love to see him in Cleveland, I just don't see it as a fit.

If he leaves AZ this year, it's be to go to a playoff team. We won't give up the picks, and he'll want to go somewhere with a chance to make a SB run.

Quote:

---

New England seems like a perfect landing spot for Fitz. They have a ton of picks

---

How does that always happen they are at the top every year but still always have multiple picks.

Are you saying 3rd rounder because you're assuming we're renting him and he leaves at the end of his deal? If so, I could get on board with that. With him plus another year under our belts plus whoever we draft this offseason, we could be in the thick of it next year. If we do well there'd perhaps be a chance of him signing an extension.

But, if you're saying that assuming he would sign an extension first and then we'd get him for a 3rd, I'd say you're delusional. Overvaluing draft picks wouldn't even be the right word for it. I'd give 2 first rounders and laugh all the way to the playoffs if it meant Fitzgerald here on a long term deal. The amount of money you have to pay high first rounders plus the bust rate would make that a no brainer to get a guy of his caliber.

Just a pipe dream though, no sense in putting too much thought into it.

Quote:

---

But, if you're saying that assuming he would sign an extension first and then we'd get him for a 3rd, I'd say you're delusional.

---

I think he was talking about Jackson.

Yep, so next year they have

2 -1st
2 -2nd
2 -3rds
4th
5th
6th

One of their 2nds, IIRC, is Carolina's .... so it's damn near a 1st as well.