By Matt Eppers, USA TODAY
Larry Fitzgerald is staying in Arizona and could be there for the remainder of his career.
The Cardinals have agreed to terms with Fitzgerald on a new eight-year contract that would keep the receiver in Arizona through the 2018 season, the team announced in a statement Saturday night.
ESPN and the Associated Press reported the deal could be worth as much as $120 million, making it one of the richest in the NFL. ESPN also reported that nearly $50 million is guaranteed.
"Growing up, since I was seven years old, this has been the game I love and something I have been so passionate about," Fitzgerald said.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Fitzgerald caught 90 passes for 1,137 yards and six touchdowns last season, even as the Cardinals suffered through inconsistent quarterback play and finished 5-11. Four different quarterbacks -- Derek Anderson, John Skelton, Max Hall and Richard Bartel -- saw time under center in 2010, with Anderson, Skelton and Hall all spending time as the starter.
Arizona acquired former Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb in the offseason in an effort to bring stability to the position that has been lacking since Kurt Warner retired after the 2009 season.
Cardinals managements had said previously that it wanted any new deal to be completed by the time the regular season starts.
"To have to talk about it on the business side is a little bit uncomfortable," said Fitzgerald, who turns 28 on Aug. 31. "But I am really happy to put it behind us."
The No. 3 overall pick of the 2004 draft, Fitzgerald has topped 90 catches and 1,000 receiving yards in five of his seven NFL seasons, including the last four. For his career, he has 613 catches, the most in franchise history, for 8,204 yards and 65 touchdowns. Fitzgerald needs just 294 yards and two touchdowns to surpass Roy Green's franchise records in those categories.
Contributing: Associated Press
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/ZYsI9kVhpPU/1
Colt McCoy NFL Lockout NFL Players strike Steelers Commissioner Roger Goodell
No comments:
Post a Comment