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Fitzgerald willing to restructure contract to keep Boldin a Cardinal

TAMPA, Fla. -- Larry Fitzgerald said he'd look at restructuring his contract if it would help keep fellow Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin on the team.

Schefter's take

NFL Network's Adam Schefter writes that many people around the league believe that as long as the Cardinals make a sufficient offer, Boldin will agree to stay in Arizona. More ...

"Someone asked me a question if I would be willing to do something to help the team, and I said, 'No problem,' " Fitzgerald said Wednesday. "This opportunity right here to be playing deep in the postseason, this is an amazing feeling. I'll do whatever it takes to get back to this point going forward in my career."

The question came up as the Cardinals prepared for Sunday's Super Bowl matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Fitzgerald and Boldin form arguably the best receiving tandem in the NFL. Fitzgerald caught 96 passes for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season, and Boldin, despite missing four games with injuries, had 89 receptions for 1,038 yards and 11 scores. Both players made the Pro Bowl.

Boldin said he appreciated Fitzgerald's offer.

"Fitz and I have been together for five years, and we've been through a lot together," Boldin said. "I think the relationship that we have, neither of us want to see broken up. There's mutual respect, not only as receivers but as friends, and we realize that we make each other's jobs easier."

Boldin said in training camp that he would never re-sign with Arizona and would like to be traded because he believes team management lied to him by not following through on a promise for a new contract. His latest comments indicate his position had softened.

Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million contract after the 2007 season, with $30 million guaranteed.

Boldin has two years left on the four-year, $22.75 million contract he signed after the 2005 season. The deal paid him about $4 million this season.

Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said he hoped to reopen contract talks with Boldin's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, after the title game.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press