Larry Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald, who turns 39 this summer, has never officially announced his retirement, but it seems to be a foregone conclusion that his playing days are over. Arians, of course, was Fitzgerald's longtime coach in Arizona, and he tried to get Fitzgerald to play the slot for the Bucs in a playoff run. But Fitzgerald allegedly told Arians he "couldn't run two plays right now" when Arians approached him. Fitzgerald is content in his post-football life as a broadcaster and minority owner of the Phoenix Suns.

"To be honest with you, I just don't have the urge to play right now," Fitzgerald told Jim Gray during an interview on Sirius XM. "I don’t know how I’ll feel in September, October, November moving forward but I just, today, I just don’t have the urge. And I think I have to be respectful of that." 38 at the end of August, it sounds as if Fitzgerald has all but formally announced the end of his illustrious 17-year career. With DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore, Christian Kirk, and A.J. Green in place, Fitzgerald would merely return as a veteran leader if he (surprisingly) chooses to give it one last go in Arizona.

“I haven’t decided anything," was Fitzgerald's quote a few weeks ago. "Training camp starts in a few weeks. I’m excited, it’s going to be another great year for the NFL.” It would appear the Cardinals made a take-it-or-leave-it offer and Fitz has thus far left it. It's also possible both sides know Fitz will eventually re-up, but he is taking the savvy veteran approach of sitting out a few weeks of the rigors of camp. Coming off the worst year of his career, Fitz would be returning more as a team leader/depth after the Cardinals signed A.J. Green and used a Day 2 pick on Rondale Moore. Fantasy value is not in his future.  

“I haven’t decided anything. Training camp starts in a few weeks. I’m excited, it’s going to be another great year for the NFL.” Fitzgerald, 38 next month, remains a free agent after his one-year extension expired in March. Cardinals GM Steve Keim hasn’t ruled out bringing him back, but an Arizona return is unlikely after A.J. Green signed this offseason. Fitzgerald, who’s never won a Super Bowl, should have interest from teams if he returns for another season.