Greg Esposito
The fastest to reach 800 receptions in an NFL career … might be traded by Tuesday and if not, in the offseason.
If you read the Cliff’s Notes version on Larry Fitzgerald’s Sunday it might read something like that.
Just hours before kickoff — and isn’t it amazing that ESPN’s insiders “break” this stuff on game day when they have a four hour show to fill — the four-letter network’s Adam Schefter broke news the Cardinals will consider dealing the Pro Bowl receiver.
A trade for Cards WR Larry Fitzgerald will be in play this off-season, in likely event a deal not completed before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 27, 2013
That “news” came on the same afternoon Fitz would break an NFL receptions record.
Does something feel off to anyone else?
Larry Fitzgerald has been loyal to a Cardinals franchise who hasn’t always made that an easy thing to do over the years. And in the process has set NFL records with more quarterbacks than a Jon Gruden camp.
Is it really easier to trade Larry Fitzgerald than to find an average to above average quarterback to get him the ball? The strategy seems like a TV show producer getting Brad Pitt to agree to star in a show but canceling productions midway through when they can’t find a second-tier actor to fill the supporting role.
It makes no sense.
If you have a superstar in the midst or tail end of his prime, you keep him. Especially when that star committed to you when he easily could have left for someone else.
For most of their 25 years in the Valley, the Cardinals have lacked two things. A legitimate long term quarterback and a superstar. Fitzgerald checks one of those boxes. Oh, and did I mention he’s the Tom Hanks of the NFL? He’s so good at his profession and an even better person that it’s hard for anyone to dislike him.
To give up on Fitzgerald now for what would likely be a second and sixth round pick, according to reports, is like the student who throws up their hands and says the school work is too hard just to get out of doing it.
Larry Fitzgerald has been loyal to a Cardinals franchise who hasn’t always made that an easy thing to do over the years. And in the process has set NFL records with more quarterbacks than a Jon Gruden camp.
To turn your back on him now would make about as much sense as trade rumors emerging on the same day he set an NFL record. One of those things as already happened, the second doesn’t have to.
