It's just business.
That's what aging veterans in the NFL always have to remember. Despite how successful they've been or how popular they are with the fan base, every player has an expiration date. Such is the case with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, whose time with the team could be coming to an end.
Fitzgerald and the Cardinals have reportedly had positive preliminary talks about a new contract. That's good news, because Fitzgerald is due an $8 million roster bonus on March 17 and has an astronomical cap figure of $23.6 million for 2015. Even with Cardinals general manager Steve Keim saying that the team has "baked in" the cap figure into their budget, it is highly unlikely that the team will pay such an enormous sum for a receiver who will be 32-years-old next season.
"Keim has not ruled out the possibility of trading Fitzgerald," Kent Somers of AZCentral.com wrote.
There are a handful of contending teams that would be open to acquiring the eight-time Pro Bowler. The New England Patriots have been mentioned as the most popular landing spot.
"Some call it New England, others refer to it as a meeting place for veterans nearing the ends of their careers who want to make one more run at the Super Bowl," AOL.com's Sam Spiegelman wrote. "Fitzgerald fits that bill, and even a 37-year-old Tom Brady might be the best quarterback he's ever had a chance to haul in catches from.
"With a revolving door under center for the Cardinals, Fitzgerald was still the best receiver on the team. The Patriots' offense lacked a receiver of his caliber, having to rely on big plays from tight end Rob Gronkowski and smaller pickups from Brandon Lafell and slot receiver Julian Edelman."
Fitzgerald may no longer be the high-flying athletic leaper he was during Arizona's Super Bowl run in 2009, but he is still productive. As mentioned above, Bill Belichick has always had a soft spot for talented veterans. If the Cardinals deem Fitzgerald too expensive to keep, look for New England to be ready and willing to take him on.
