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This time of year, NFL teams are forced to hang their financial dirty laundry out to dry for all to see. It is embarrassing to some, but it's puzzling to most...

Cardinal Sin: Arizona Will Lose Larry Fitzgerald

by John Fennelly (Senior Writer)

23

3,003 reads

Sports

March 07, 2008


This time of year, NFL teams are forced to hang their financial dirty laundry out to dry for all to see. It is embarrassing to some, but it's puzzling to most.

How do these teams get into such untenable financial fixes?

Let's look at the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona is a good place for these Cardinals because of their location. Ari (dry) zona (land) is apropos since nothing will ever grow in such a place.

They get lucky once in awhile and land a great talent, such as WR Larry Fitzgerald, but they always somehow seem to turn that fortune into misfortune.

The Cardinals structured Fitzgerald's rookie contract with lucrative clauses that they did not forsee him fulfilling. But, as luck would have it, he has become a perennial Pro Bowl WR and has exceeded all of his initial contract's incentives.

Now the Cardinals are scratching their heads, trying to figure out how they are going to pay Fitgerald and still field a team.

Fitzgerald, the third overall pick in the 2004 draft, will make $14.6 million this season and could make $17.4 in 2009. There is no way the Cardinals can afford to pay one player this much money and still expect to compete.

They most likely will have to trade him. What a shame.

 

How did this happen?

According to Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic: "They've known for years that they could face this situation. It's the price teams pay for picking high in the draft. Fitzgerald was the third overall pick in 2004, and he signed a deal laden with incentives that would pay him handsomely if he became an elite player.

Included in that rookie contract were clauses that would bump his 2008 salary by $10 million should he chosen for two Pro Bowls in his first four years, and by $11 million in 2009 for other achievements.

Those clauses were designed to get the two parties back to the bargaining table after four years. Now, Parker (his agent) is seeking another four-year deal that would pay Fitzgerald between $25 million and $30 million in guarantees."

This is not just an Arizona-centric problem, but it's the type of problem better organizations avoid.

Somers summed it all up by writing: "The impact of the Fitzgerald situation reverberates throughout the organization. It calls into question Fitzgerald's sincerity and commitment to winning, Rod Graves' acumen as a general manager and owner Bill Bidwill's willingness to write a check with a lot of numbers to the left of the decimal point."

Too bad the Cardinals aren't in the NFC East anymore...

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23 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Rich Tandler about 1 year ago

    "Too bad the Cardinals aren't in the NFC East anymore..."

    But Larry Fitzgerald may well be there soon.

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  2. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    Quote:
    "The impact of the Fitzgerald situation reverberates throughout the organization. It calls into question Fitzgerald's sincerity and commitment to winning"

    It calls into question Fitzgerald's sincerity and commitment to winning? Let me get this straight, Fitzgerald and the Cards agreed upon a contract in good faith. Right? Then, Larry Fitzgerald worked his tail off, led his team in TDs in 3 of his next 4 years, led his team in receptions in 3 of his next 4 years, had 2 100 reception seasons and earned his way to 2 Pro Bowls....... AND LARRY FITZGERALD IS THE ONE WHO IS INSINCERE AND LACKING A COMMITMENT TO WINNING?

    You have got to be kidding me! Kent Somers needs to have his press pass revoked because his commitment to responsible journalism is what is REALLY lacking here.

    The Cards have only posted 1 winning season in the last 20+ years. So, maybe Kent is wholly unsure of what the term "commitment to winning" actually means. I don't know. What I do know is that no other WR has more that one 100-reception season over that same span, only Chad Johnson has as many (2) 1400+ yard receiving seasons, and Fitzgerald has only missed 4 games in his entire career.

    Who is more lacking of a commitment to winning, Larry Fitzgerald or the Cardinals?

    Kent Somers owes Larry Fitzgerald and apology.

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    • John Fennelly about 1 year ago

      I think you're right...It's not the player's fault here. Somers should not question Fitzgerald's desire or intentions

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  3. Elvis Presley about 1 year ago

    Quote:
    "The impact of the Fitzgerald situation reverberates throughout the organization. It calls into question Fitzgerald's sincerity and commitment to winning"

    It calls into question Fitzgerald's sincerity and commitment to winning? Let me get this straight, Fitzgerald and the Cards agreed upon a contract in good faith. Right? Then, Larry Fitzgerald worked his tail off, led his team in TDs in 3 of his next 4 years, led his team in receptions in 3 of his next 4 years, had 2 100 reception seasons and earned his way to 2 Pro Bowls....... AND LARRY FITZGERALD IS THE ONE WHO IS INSINCERE AND LACKING A COMMITMENT TO WINNING?

    You have got to be kidding me! Kent Somers needs to have his press pass revoked because his commitment to responsible journalism is what is REALLY lacking here.

    The Cards have only posted 1 winning season in the last 20+ years. So, maybe Kent is wholly unsure of what the term "commitment to winning" actually means. I don't know. What I do know is that no other WR has more that one 100-reception season over that same span, only Chad Johnson has as many (2) 1400+ yard receiving seasons, and Fitzgerald has only missed 4 games in his entire career.

    Who is more lacking of a commitment to winning, Larry Fitzgerald or the Cardinals?

    Kent Somers owes Larry Fitzgerald and apology.

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  4. John Fennelly about 1 year ago

    Elvis, I thought you left the building...

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  5. Bart Upchurch about 1 year ago

    I can't wait for Larry to sign with the Bills:)

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  6. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    We'd love to have him here in philly. He'd be worshipped here before he got his luggage off the plane. Any idea if this will actually go down?

    Seems like you guys have to choose between a bunch of bad options if he won't restructre. Either pay him, enjoy his last year of service and then cut him in 2009, or deal him now to try and not leave this situation empty-handed.

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  7. Max Iascone about 1 year ago

    Philly is too obvious, whenever a pro-bowl wideout is dealt, nobody expects him to go where he ultimately ends up, San Diego Chargers any one? They are one of the teams best equipped to make a potential trade because of their depth and youth. the Titans also have the need but I'm not sure if they have the assets needed to make the trade

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  8. Keith Sellars about 1 year ago

    Tampa and Miami have a ton of cap room... Larry might go from dry to humid.

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  9. Steve Yodz about 1 year ago

    Why would you sign any contract that would pay a WR almost 18 million a year under any circumstances, let alone something like making the pro bowl 2 out of 4 years? I'm all for incentive based contracts, but this was just ridiculous. Very good explanation of the situation, keep the articles coming.

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  10. Dieter Kurtenbach about 1 year ago

    I don't know who would have the money to sign someone like Fitzgerald, and a better question. Who would give him the money? 18 million dollars is far too much to pay a single player. I can't imagine any team would be willing to take that much of a hit. Mind you Fitzgerald is an elite player, but I can't imagine him being paid this much. Arizona should make a deal before the draft, but I have a feeling that no one will bite. Before it is said and done, if Fitz doesn't restructure his deal, I imagine that the Cards might be faced with cutting him. Wouldn't that be interesting indeed.

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    • John Fennelly about 1 year ago

      If they cut him, that will change the culture of rookie contracts.

      What agent would let his client sign a deal that a team could void?

      They'll start adding a 'cut fee' in every contract

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  11. Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

    The Cardinals can't allow Fitzerald to leave town if they want to win next year. At the same time, they can't move at all under their current cap.

    I liked the way John Clayton said it this morning on Mike and Mike in the Morning:

    "Arizona can't even sign Mike Golic to a minimum salary right now!"

    Clayton says that Fitzgerald wouldn't mind to re-structure his deal, but he wants the same money over four years, while Arizona wants to pay it out in four years, plus two extra years. Neither side is moving.

    Bottom line: they need to get something done, quick.

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  12. Dieter Kurtenbach about 1 year ago

    I do, in the end, think that the Cardinals will break a new deal with Fitz. Guaranteed money up front, at a lower clip a year. I still think that if there is no bites on the trade bait, which is a distinct possibility, cutting #11 is something that the Cardinals will be forced to do. It would send a shockwave through the NFL, and because of this possibility, I don't think anyone would trade for that contract. Teams like the Bucs and Eagles know that they can just sign Fitzgerald to a contract of mutual attraction.

    In short, this entire situation is a horrible catch-22 that Arizona can't win.

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  13. Dieter Kurtenbach about 1 year ago

    News just through the wire: Larry Fitzgerald got his way. He got a four year deal that is front heavy. The signing freed up 8.5 million dollars for the Cardinals to operate under the cap with. They were at 400,000 dollars before the restructuring.

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  14. John Fennelly about 1 year ago

    Well, well, well......wonders will never cease

    Who would've thought everyone in this situation would actually come to their senses.

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  15. Jeff Little about 1 year ago

    Well as others have mentioned Larry Fitzgerald has re-signed to a huge contract and will remain with the Cardinals although two other facts have to be mentioned. 1) He will be 27 years old when he will hit free agency again 2) His huge deal will not sit well with Anquan Boldin, who is considered by some to be the better reciever. I doubt that we've heard the end of this scenario seeing as Coach Whisenhunt wants to bring a power runnning game to the desert.

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  1. John Fennelly about 1 year ago

    I concur

    This still has the potential to end badly

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  2. John Fennelly about 1 year ago

    I concur

    This still has the potential to end badly

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