There has been a concerned rumor circulating amongst the Arizona Cardinals faithful that uber-talented wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald may find himself in another NFL destination come next season.
His declining production and now secondary status in the offense combined with his hefty contract - he's slated to count $23.6 million against the cap next season - means that the Cardinals all-time great could wind up playing elsewhere for the duration of his NFL career.
Not so fast, says Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill.
"I think there is definitely mutual interest in getting something worked out," Bidwill said Thursday night on the "Big Red Rage," according to the team's website. "Larry and I have had conversations. I know he's had conversations with (coach) Bruce (Arians) and (General Manager) Steve Keim. (Larry) is traveling right now, but I think at the appropriate time we'll get this worked out."
Bidwill's message to fans was to "relax."
He assured the Big Red faithful that Fitzgerald, who finished this season with 63 receptions for 784 yards and only two touchdowns, now the third season in a row that he's finished with less than 1,000 yards receiving - well below the prodigiously productive totals the fanbase has come to expect from Fitzgerald - isn't going anywhere.
"I know our fans are anxious and lot of media is out there talking, but I'd just say, 'Everyone, relax a little bit.' We'll get this worked out. I feel good about it," the owner said. "My goal from the beginning was to have Larry Fitzgerald retire as a Cardinal when he is ready to retire many years from now. I am feeling confident something will get worked out."
But with Fitzgerald carrying such a hefty cap hit and the team boasting a number of other weapons on offense - Andre Ellington, Michael Floyd, John Brown - there's no disputing the notion that something will have to give.
Either Fitzgerald will restructure his contract - the only scenario that will allow the wide receiver to stay in the desert - or if Fitzgerald balks at the notion, the team will be forced to explore a trade, a notion Bidwill seems to be saying he won't explore.
