Larry Fitz agrees to new 2 year deal-11 million per

[Doomsday101]

Forget the per year number for now...
22 million guaranteed.
That is a giant number for a two year deal for a player at his age.


I think Dallas was originally hoping to pay just a little more than that (maybe 27 or so) over an 8-10 year deal.

I agree but it seems this deal also favors the Cards

General manager Steve Keim confirmed at the NFL Scouting Combine two hours later that the deal is "finished." Per Keim, it's essentially a two-year arrangement. Rapoport added that Fitz's deal is for $11 million and saves the Cards $13 million in the first season, per a source who has seen the contract.
"The two biggest pulls for us were pretty simple," Keim explained. "No. 1 to compensate Larry for the type of player, the type of talent he is and the leader that he is. And then essentially clearing up enough salary cap space for us moving forward to be able to be aggressive and proactive when free agency starts."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...itzgerald-arizona-cardinals-finalize-new-deal

 

[CyberB0b]

Doesn't reduce his franchise tag, but does tremendously improve our leverage in negotiations.

Dez's argument will be that Fitzgerald and Johnson make a certain amount, both of their contracts are likely to be restructured. This will set a new standard across the league, especially if he has to play under the franchise tag next year.

WR money is going to top out around 13 million going forward.

I don't agree with that, at all. We have a guy who still hasn't reached his prime, versus a guy who is about to hit 32 and who hasn't had a 1000 yard season since 2011. Larry Fitz, by all metrics, is winding down his career.

 

[Galian Beast]

I don't agree with that, at all. We have a guy who still hasn't reached his prime, versus a guy who is about to hit 32 and who hasn't had a 1000 yard season since 2011. Larry Fitz, by all metrics, is winding down his career.

Calvin is also going to have his contract lowered.

Outside of these two receivers no one makes more than 12 million a year.

 

[DFWJC]

Not really. He was scheduled to make that in 2015 alone. He basically spread it over 2 seasons and allowed the Cards to get out of the contract very cheaply after the 2 years. This is a great deal for the Cards. It's not a huge number at all if you figure that they were already on the hook for that in 2015.

He could have gotten paid that this year and went out and signed another deal for whatever money with additional bonus and base and come out with even more money in his pocket. Apparently, he didn't decide to do that but he could have.

Yes, good deal for cards AND Fitz.

He did not have 22 million guaranteed for 2015.
Not anywhere near that. A fraction of that.

So yes, it is a good deal for the Cards.
But they could have cut Fitz and taken the hit and Fitz would have also taken a big hit.

 

[Galian Beast]

I still think Both Dez and Thomas are waiting for other one to set market value for tier 1 WR.

They're both likely to be franchised. And again the WR market is resetting, in fact most offensive skill players are seeing their numbers reset.

 

[phildadon86]

Yes, good deal for cards AND Fitz.

He did not have 22 million guaranteed for 2015.
Not anywhere near that. A fraction of that.

So yes, it is a good deal for the Cards.
But they could have cut Fitz and taken the hit and Fitz would have also taken a big hit.

I read it was 27.5 next season guaranteed

 

[YosemiteSam]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12341629/larry-fitzgerald-sign-new-deal-arizona-cardinals

Does this give us some more bargaining room with Bryant? Does it lower the Franchise Tag number?

Not likely. Larry is getting long in the tooth. (He will be 32 by next season) He can't demand the same type of money he used too.

 

[dogunwo]

Dez is waiting on them to offer Calvin Johnson money.
He could care less about Thomas, tho the Cowboys would like to have more top WR contracts to compare for sure.

Dez believes it is him and CJ at his level.

How do you know that?

 

[DFWJC]

I read it was 27.5 next season guaranteed

His entire contract was for 7 years, 113 mil, and a total of 27 guaranteed over the 7 years.

 

[therock1982]

Dez is waiting on them to offer Calvin Johnson money.
He could care less about Thomas, tho the Cowboys would like to have more top WR contracts to compare for sure.

Dez believes it is him and CJ at his level.

then he is wrong

 

[JBS]

His tag # this year may not change...but w a few other WRs restructuring their deals...it will make it easier to tag dez again next season

Or does dez automatically get a 20% increase if we tag him again next yr?

If that is the case..it will still make it easier to sign him long term when he will be the highest paid WR at a lower number

 

[AbeBeta]

Doesn't reduce his franchise tag, but does tremendously improve our leverage in negotiations.

Dez's argument will be that Fitzgerald and Johnson make a certain amount, both of their contracts are likely to be restructured. This will set a new standard across the league, especially if he has to play under the franchise tag next year.

WR money is going to top out around 13 million going forward.

No, I think Dez's agent will point to Fitz being 31 years old. He'll likely bring up this as well.

Fitz is 31 and averaged 72 catches for 845 yards and 5.3 TDs over the past three years.

Dez is 26 and averaged 91 catches for 1311 yards and 13.7 TDs over the past three years.

If anything, that suggests that Dez should make well over 11 mill per year.

 

[CyberB0b]

They're both likely to be franchised. And again the WR market is resetting, in fact most offensive skill players are seeing their numbers reset.

I think they will probably be reset to the high side. If a 32 year old Larry Fitz is getting 11/year, what should a prime top 5 player get? CJ signed two years ago, and by all accounts, the salary cap should go up. The more I think about it, the more bargaining power Dez has. It is a bit of a gamble, but if I were Dez's agent, I would recommend he take the franchise tag and try not to get hurt. He will get paid.

 

[Nightman]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12341629/larry-fitzgerald-sign-new-deal-arizona-cardinals

Does this give us some more bargaining room with Bryant? Does it lower the Franchise Tag number?

It would help lower the exclusive franchise tag number. That one is determined by the top 5 salaries on April 24th of THIS season(that is the end of RFA period). Normally teams don't use the exclusive tag because the other one has 2 1st rounds picks attached and is usually cheaper. But if the market is correcting with Fitz, Harvin and maybe Wallace all getting less, it could lower the number significantly.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Doesn't reduce his franchise tag, but does tremendously improve our leverage in negotiations.

Dez's argument will be that Fitzgerald and Johnson make a certain amount, both of their contracts are likely to be restructured. This will set a new standard across the league, especially if he has to play under the franchise tag next year.

WR money is going to top out around 13 million going forward.

This doesn't help us with Dez at all. Fits ien31 (turns 32 before the season) and is a declining player.

Dez is 26 and an ascending player.

The fact that Fitz is getting 22M guaranteed over 2 years) says a ton. Dez deserves (and will be) paid more than Fitz today.

Don't kid yourself.

 

[Nightman]

No, I think Dez's agent will point to Fitz being 31 years old. He'll likely bring up this as well.

Fitz is 31 and averaged 72 catches for 845 yards and 5.3 TDs over the past three years.

Dez is 26 and averaged 91 catches for 1311 yards and 13.7 TDs over the past three years.

If anything, that suggests that Dez should make well over 11 mill per year.

No it means the whole position is being reset. Dez should be right in that 12-13m range.

Fitz goes from 16m to 11m
Harvin will probably be cut 10m to FA
Wallace may be cut or reduced 10m to ????
PGarcon is rumored to be cut
AJohnson is due 23m the next 2 years with 0 guaranteed

 

[Apollo Creed]

8 years 100 mil, 40 mil guaranteed seems fair for Dez. Little over 12 mil per, backloaded so he can flex a 9 figure deal and appear team friendly all at the same time. We don't need the brain damage of him holding out this summer, media will turn it into a spectacle. Romo's window is closing and we need to capitalize. Don't be stupid Jerry, you've paid through the nose for guys like Roy Williams - don't suddenly get cheap with your home grown, franchise WR that will give you 15 TDs a year and demand special attention from defenses every Sunday.

I hate the Cardinals, but I so respect Fitz. Glad he is staying where he wants to play. Classy, classy guy.

And he's done it all with literally dozens of sub-par QBs throwing him the ball.

Imagine what his numbers would be with a franchise QB throughout his career.

 

[Galian Beast]

No, I think Dez's agent will point to Fitz being 31 years old. He'll likely bring up this as well.

Fitz is 31 and averaged 72 catches for 845 yards and 5.3 TDs over the past three years.

Dez is 26 and averaged 91 catches for 1311 yards and 13.7 TDs over the past three years.

If anything, that suggests that Dez should make well over 11 mill per year.

Argument fails once Johnson redoes his contract as well...

 

[Galian Beast]

I think they will probably be reset to the high side. If a 32 year old Larry Fitz is getting 11/year, what should a prime top 5 player get? CJ signed two years ago, and by all accounts, the salary cap should go up. The more I think about it, the more bargaining power Dez has. It is a bit of a gamble, but if I were Dez's agent, I would recommend he take the franchise tag and try not to get hurt. He will get paid.

Larry was scheduled at 16 million per year...

Johnson the same.

No other WR makes more than 12.

 

[Nightman]

Argument fails once Johnson redoes his contract as well...

You can add DBowe, VJackson and GJennings to that list as well

Teams have been throwing a ton of money at WRs with little success

Why everyone thinks a 100m deal for any WR is a good idea is beyond me

Most of the top guys are still on their first contract, Dez, DThomas. JJones, AjGreen, TYHilton and don't forget the crop of rookies this year-OBJr, Mike Evans, SammyWatkins, KBenjamin, Jordan Matthews, Brandon Cooks.