Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has enjoyed a stellar career. Right now, he sits 11th all-time in receptions (1,018), 15th in receiving yards (12,366), 11th in receiving touchdowns (98) and 19th in receiving yards per game (71.9). That's a Hall of Fame career by any measure.
The only thing missing from Fitzgerald's resume is a Super Bowl victory. The Cardinals came close to giving him one back in 2009, but couldn't quite get it done. But if they win one in 2016, Fitzgerald, 32, may walk off into the sunset and retire on top.
"Fitz, physically, can go," Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said. "Whether or not he wants to mentally probably would depend on this season, I would imagine knowing him.
"If we win the Super Bowl, I would imagine he'd walk out just like Peyton [Manning]. It will be his decision."
It's not as if Fitzgerald is some ancient veteran still clinging to the glory days. The nine-time Pro Bowler set a career high in catches (109) last season while posting more than 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2011. He also caught nine touchdowns last year and become the youngest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career catches. The guy still has some juice left.
But it did take Fitzgerald a few years to become comfortable in Arians' scheme. The pass-catcher posted five straight 1,000 yard seasons from 2007-2011 before coming up short for a few seasons once Arians took over. But Fitzgerald embraced his new role in the offense and his stats and the team's record reflected that this past year.
"I'm really proud of him," Arians said. "He was asked to do something that was not easy - move inside and become a blocker. And for a highly decorated wideout that ain't easy to become Hines [Ward]. Hines was always that. Reggie [Wayne] bought in and did it."
Arians even had Wayne phone Fitzgerald to "tell him it ain't that bad" in his sales pitch.
"They talked and he bought in," Arians said of Fitzgerald.
"He doesn't always play in the slot like everybody things. He was a wideout on most downs. When you learn to play in there, you can still get 100 balls that you may not get outside."
Following the trade for pass-rusher Chandler Jones a few weeks ago, the Cardinals are once again expected to make a run at the Super Bowl next season. The Cardinals hold team options for Fitzgerald in 2017 and 2018.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
