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**sfphillyfan** · 01-29-2008, 06:01 PM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

an athlete that actually saves his money?! wow.

**leifdawg** · 01-29-2008, 08:50 PM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Everything I've ever heard about him says he is a really smart guy.

**bullwinkle** · 01-29-2008, 11:26 PM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

His team has $30m in cap room for 2008. So while they would like to get him on into a more cap-friendly long term contract, they don't need to. So they are not in a situation where they have to trade him if they can't work out a contract over the next few months.

http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp

**tinopuno** · 01-30-2008, 12:09 AM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Originally posted by leifdawg

Everything I've ever heard about him says he is a really smart guy.

He's the "Bizzaro World" version of Owens...or, for that matter, of most of the arrogant "It's All About Me" elite wide outs in the NFL. Smart, articulate, world's of talent, yet very down to earth. Heard him interviewed at some length a year or so and I remember thinking he would be a GREAT addition to any team based on his attitude alone...especially the Birds.

Fitzgerald gives much credit to his parents, who were loving and supportive but always set limits when he was growing up and never let him get too full of himself.

If AR could design the perfect high-character, team-first, play making WO it would be Fitzgerald. If only.....!!!!

**ThoughtProcess** · 01-30-2008, 06:55 AM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Originally posted by bullwinkle

His team has $30m in cap room for 2008. So while they would like to get him on into a more cap-friendly long term contract, they don't need to. So they are not in a situation where they have to trade him if they can't work out a contract over the next few months.

http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp

From information that I have gathered thus far through various football websites and pubs: The perceived problem with Fitzgerald's deal is that the Cards also want to re-sign starting LB's Karlos Dansby and Calvin Pace, who are both UFA's. Dansby might even get the franchise tag. Extensions for Boldin and SS Adrian Wilson are also on the table, as they both become UFA's in 2009, I think.
With 30mil total, for 2008 Fitzgerald would consume a little over half of that salary pool. And the upcoming draft picks haven't been considered. All that said, I agree with you that Fitzgerald will likely remain a Card. he will likely get the deal re-worked, providing short-term relief and allowing the Cards to take care of those other players on their radar screen.

**stevemc** · 01-30-2008, 08:16 AM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Even if the ask the commish site were right - did you see that only 34 players are signed? The Eagles will have $24MM+ in cap room with a # of players to cut and essentially an entire roster already put together. But back to Fitzgerald - first TP - Fitzgerald is already in the calculations you see so he wouldn't take up more of their space but a more detailed look is here:

http://arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105821

This has Fitz in it as well as well as considered roster bonuses coming due. This has 41 players signed and $16MM of cap room. Karlos Dansby is not listed because he isn't signed and will probably be franchised for $8MM which takes up half their room and leaves them with another 9 players to sign. They can do it - it just isn't as simple as you might think. Plus their roster is made up of bargain basement guys and people like Wilson & Boldin want extensions as well.

**WCPhan** · 01-30-2008, 10:58 AM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Looking at the Redskins numbers makes me think that Gibbs bailed on them because they are screwed next year.

**Vet Turf** · 01-30-2008, 11:14 AM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

We say he is smart yet he wants to stay with the Cards? That seems like a contradiction in my book.

**ThoughtProcess** · 01-30-2008, 12:31 PM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Originally posted by stevemc

Even if the ask the commish site were right - did you see that only 34 players are signed? The Eagles will have $24MM+ in cap room with a # of players to cut and essentially an entire roster already put together. But back to Fitzgerald - first TP - Fitzgerald is already in the calculations you see so he wouldn't take up more of their space but a more detailed look is here:

http://arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105821

This has Fitz in it as well as well as considered roster bonuses coming due. This has 41 players signed and $16MM of cap room. Karlos Dansby is not listed because he isn't signed and will probably be franchised for $8MM which takes up half their room and leaves them with another 9 players to sign. They can do it - it just isn't as simple as you might think. Plus their roster is made up of bargain basement guys and people like Wilson & Boldin want extensions as well.

Thanks for the clarification, stevemc.

**leifdawg** · 01-30-2008, 06:08 PM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Originally posted by stevemc

Even if the ask the commish site were right - did you see that only 34 players are signed? The Eagles will have $24MM+ in cap room with a # of players to cut and essentially an entire roster already put together. But back to Fitzgerald - first TP - Fitzgerald is already in the calculations you see so he wouldn't take up more of their space but a more detailed look is here:

http://arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105821

This has Fitz in it as well as well as considered roster bonuses coming due. This has 41 players signed and $16MM of cap room. Karlos Dansby is not listed because he isn't signed and will probably be franchised for $8MM which takes up half their room and leaves them with another 9 players to sign. They can do it - it just isn't as simple as you might think. Plus their roster is made up of bargain basement guys and people like Wilson & Boldin want extensions as well.

I was about to ask how many players they had signed, thanks Steve.

**Jukin** · 01-31-2008, 10:35 AM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

I wouldn't read too much into his comments here. Given the fact that they are a decent team who have talent and are seemingly taking steps to better themselves - why wouldn't he say this stuff? Unlike the Chad Johnsons of the world, Fitzgerald has a brain and a lot of class. If the Cards will pay him the same as another team then sticking around with his friends and coaches in an area where's comfortable has to be more desirable than selling his house, moving to ... God knows where, learning a new system and trying to create chemistry with a new QB.... etc. In the end Larry also knows that making statements about wanting to stay not only makes him appear as a character guy dedicated to his team, but it also makes teams throw a little more money into the deal since he "doesn't" want to leave to begin with. All-in-all, I would expect him to say this sort of thing in his situation. We'll see what happens once the Cards start making counter offers to him after he sees what else is out there.

**stevemc** · 01-31-2008, 12:58 PM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Fitzgerald tells WIP that IF he were traded - Philly would be one of four teams he'd like to go to:

(audio)

http://www.profootballtalk.com/WIP1-30-08.mp3

**leifdawg** · 01-31-2008, 02:42 PM

Re: Fitzgerald says he wants to stay with Cards

Originally posted by stevemc

Fitzgerald tells WIP that IF he were traded - Philly would be one of four teams he'd like to go to:

(audio)

http://www.profootballtalk.com/WIP1-30-08.mp3

Joooooooy

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