arizona cardinals wide receiver larry fitzgerald is reportedly pondering on retirement, possibly next season. However, there are a lot of factors that come to mind – including the competitive fire that burns inside the third overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft.
With the rumors swirling, the best person to ask about it all is Fitzgerald himself. But as expected, he responded to questions broadly, likely an indication that he would cross the bridge once he gets there. For now, it seems he is dialed in and looking to play his role for the Cardinals in the 2017-18 NFL season.
A championship could change the tide
It seems that Fitzgerald is looking for something to ice his pro football career. Similar to any sport, the culminating part is once he is able to savor a championship. However, he cannot do it alone meaning all the Cardinals have to be on the same page.
The man tasked to manage personnel is coach Bruce Arians who has been tactically looking out for his key players. Training camp is underway but the 64-year-old head coach has mapped out his logistics in an effort to preserve his key players for the regular season.
Injuries were the main issue for the Cardinals in 2016. Despite a talented gathering of players that include Carson Palmer, Fitzgerald, David Johnson, Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, and Calais Campbell, things just didn’t fall into place for Arians and the Cardinals.
For the coming season, Arizona is hoping that their fortunes become better.
Recharge and respond
Hence, it all depends on how Arians can preserve Fitzgerald before he is unleashed for the 2017 season. The veteran wide receiver is eyeing a Super Bowl ring and that could be within reach. It all depends on how things turn out though the aftermath may revive all that talk about retirement.
But if the Cardinals do wrap it up, it seems Fitzgerald finds it the perfect opportunity to call it a career. He prefers to retire than be retired and says will quit without looking back.
”The end is never really pretty for elite athletes. It never looks good. You watch Michael Jordan in a Washington Wizards uniform or see Tony Dorsett playing for the Denver Broncos.
… It’s weird because you’re used to seeing them at their most dominant stage,” said Fitzgerald.
The thing here is that Fitzgerald wants to be remembered leaving the game on a high note and doing what he does best. Being a wide receiver, the Cardinals wide receiver has gotten his share of bumps and bruises with the physicality the game brings. Regardless, retirement may be up there but not yet immediately happening if Arizona (finally) reaches the Super Bowl this time around.
