Cardinals 'working tirelessly' on Larry Fitzgerald contract
The Arizona Cardinals are "working tirelessly" in contract talks with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in hopes of signing the franchise's all-time leading receiver to a deal so he can finish his career with the team, general manager Steve Keim said Friday on KMVP.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that the two sides had started negotiations. Fitzgerald has a $23.6 million salary cap hit for next season after he signed an eight-year deal worth $120 million in 2011. He is due $16 million in base salary in 2015.
Cardinals general manager Steve Keim has previously said that he wants Fitzgerald to retire as a Cardinal and is already anticipating the necessary cap hit. He reiterated that stance on Friday.
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"The communication has been constant and hopefully we have a resolution that both parties are happy with," Keim added. "I think the biggest thing is, in any negotiation, you've got to find a balance where both parties feel like we have a good situation. And again, we're working tirelessly -- that's my number one objective right now, it's our number one objective as an organization, and we've said it all along and it hasn't changed. Larry Fitzgerald, we want him to retire a Cardinal."
Fitzgerald, 31, has played each of his 11 seasons in the league with the Cardinals since being selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2004 NFL draft.
He led the team in 2014 with 63 receptions and had 784 yards and a career-low two touchdowns. Fitzgerald, an eight-time Pro Bowl receiver, has 909 career receptions for 12,151 yards and 89 touchdowns during his career.
The Cardinals will save $9.2 million in salary cap space if Fitzgerald is released.
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