The Cardinals have started preliminary contract talks with four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, The Arizona Republicreported Sunday, citing sources.
"I want to stay here. I enjoy playing for coach (Ken) Whisenhunt. I enjoy working for the Bidwills," Fitzgerald told The Associated Press in December. "They've always treated me good since I first got here. This is all I know. I can't ever say that I want to go anywhere else."
Fitzgerald finished the season with 90 receptions for 1,137 yards -- his fifth career 1,000-yard receiving season in seven years.
Fitzgerald is in line for his third big contract while still in his 20s. He came into the NFL barely 21 years old after Arizona made him the third overall pick in the 2004 draft. In 2007, he signed a four-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. That extended a rookie contract initially of six years and $45 million, with $20 million guaranteed, plus incentives. He is scheduled to make $7 million next season, the final year of his contract.
At 27 years, 110 days, Fitzgerald became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 600 career receptions and the second-youngest, behind Randy Moss, to reach 8,000 career receiving yards. Fitzgerald also broke Anquan Boldin's franchise record for receptions.
Fitzgerald told The AP in December that he will not place a deadline for a contract extension.
"I'm not going to hold a team hostage," he said. "I think that's counterproductive. I had the opportunity to do that a few years ago, and, at my core, I'm a team guy. Obviously, I want to be compensated for my work, no different than you or anybody else in America that's working, but I don't want it to be to the point where we can't make this thing go."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
