Larry Fitzgerald has taken a year-to-year approach to retirement for a while now, but the Cardinals‘ all-time great has continued to return and remain productive. However, he will not spend much time considering a return if the now-Kyler Murray-led team makes a surprise run and wins Super Bowl LV this season.
“That would definitely validate me,” Fitzgerald said of a Super Bowl victory, via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. “You wouldn’t see me around here anymore if that happened. Another catch, another touchdown, another yard is not going to make more whatever – my legacy is pretty much cemented. I just want to win a championship, I want to compete for a division title. Those are the things that are important to me.”
Now 37, the league’s oldest active wideout has climbed into second place on both the receptions and receiving yards lists. Needing 172 catches to pass Jerry Rice, Fitz would likely need at least two more full seasons to have a chance to move into the No. 1 spot on that list. A yardage pursuit does not seem remotely attainable. Regarding the Cards’ Super Bowl hopes, they sit 17th at plus-5000 — according to BetOnline.ag — to claim a championship this year.
As Week 1 approaches for 30 teams, here is the latest wide receiver news:
- Sunday will likely force fantasy managers to make changes, and Tom Brady may well have to adjust in his first game with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have listed Mike Evans as doubtful to face the Saints. Evans did not practice Wednesday or Thursday with a hamstring injury, before being limited Friday. This is a familiar situation for the seventh-year wideout; Evans missed the final three games of the 2019 season with a hamstring malady.
- Kenny Golladay is on track to miss the first game in his contract season. The Lions listed their top wideout as doubtful as well. The fourth-year standout has also encountered hamstring trouble. Detroit is not particularly deep at wideout, at least in terms of proven targets, but does have Marvin Jones back to start his contract year. The Lions also re-signed Danny Amendola this offseason.
- The AC joint sprain Courtland Sutton suffered in practice looks likely to shelve him for the Broncos‘ Monday opener against the Titans. While the Broncos are calling their top receiver “day to day,” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes the third-year standout is a long shot to play in Week 1 (video link). Sutton has not yet missed a game as a pro.
- Not all the current wide receiver news skews negative. After fears pointed to Jalen Reagor missing multiple September games, the Eagles wide receiver was a full practice participant each day this week and appears on track to play against Washington on Sunday. The first-round pick suffered a torn shoulder labrum during training camp. His presence will certainly help a receiving corps down Alshon Jeffery for the foreseeable future.
I saw somewhere Larry has more tackles than drops! Something insane like that. Great guy and heck of a player. HoF’er on & off the field.
Totally agree. It’s fun to speculate on the numbers Larry could have put up had he been surrounded by the talent that Jerry Rice was.
Easily my favorite player of all time. Watching him and Bolden was what made me a cardinals fan even growing up in niner country. Hoping they pull out a surprise season, Fitz definitely deserves to go out on top
That stat is actually true Larry Fitzgerald to put it is the the picture that pops up in the dictionary when you look up consistency.
Rooting for Fitzgerald to get that receptions record.
Big Fitzgerald fan but I’d kinda root against him getting the record actually.
He’s not Rice.
And the numbers have been inflated for the last half decade with the rule changes.
Tom Brady will likely have a great bounceback campaign, but I feel he could have some issues in the opening weekend. He will likely be without Evans, while Godwin will almost assuredly be smothered by Marshon Lattimore. The Saints also have Malcolm Jenkins to cover his tight ends, while Fournette will still need to get acclimated to the offense. Furthermore, Wirfs will have his plate full while attempting to counter one of Jordan or Davenport.
I thought Denver could pull an upset over the Titans, but the absence of Miller, Chubb, and now Sutton will be too much to overcome. Lock will likely struggle to make noise in the opener, reliant on a pair of rookie wideouts for immediate production
Brady should’ve hung it up last year. The second half he clearly was losing his legs.