Larry Fitzgerald Doesn't Want The Cardinals To Draft A QB

by JasonB on Apr 13, 2011 2:30 PM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald has had an interesting offseason commenting about his teams' starting QB situation. Fitzgerald, widely seen as one of the best WRs in the NFL, saw his TD output halved last season thanks to the awful QB situation in Arizona.

So earlier in the offseason Fitzgerald indicated to Adam Schefter that his top choice to QB the Cards next year was Kevin Kolb, who was flattered by the report.

However, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't seem happy about Fitzgerald's campaigning.

"Larry is obviously not making the decisions," Whisenhunt said. "There's a lot of things that guys want that they don't necessarily get. That's why I have individual meetings with them to get their ideas. It would make sense to at least talk to some of your players."

That hasn't stopped Fitzgerald from offering his opinion once again, saying he doesn't think the team is going to draft a QB with their top pick.

"I would doubt that we would draft a quarterback that high (No. 5)," Fitzgerald told FOX Sports Arizona on Tuesday. "I would doubt it. But, who am I? I’m just a player."

Fitzgerald would prefer "Anybody that’s going to help us win" playing under center for the Cardinals in 2011.

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I really don’t think the Cards are going to take a QB in the first round. We’ve all heard “new regimes means new QBs” before, and obviously Whisenhunt isn’t part of a new regime. That being said, I think they go for a veteran QB via trade or FA. Popular targets being: Kolb, McNabb, Bulger.

"You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded." - Michael Scott

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Apr 13, 2011 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

This isn’t the year you want to be drafting a QB in the 1st Round. Let other foolish teams make that mistake. There are plenty of other options that don’t require giving up a 1st Round pick on an unknown NFL commodity.

by RE1D on Apr 13, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

With this QB draft?

Outside of Ponder, I wouldn’t draft a QB either.

RIP Jim Johnson, best ever.
Cam Newton: future QB bust

by Imp on Apr 13, 2011 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

Cardinals fans are terrified of pissing off Fitzgerald. He’s a free agent after the 2011 season, and if the Cardinals tag him in 2012, there’s a clause in his contract that says he’ll make $23 million that season. Since there’s virtually no chance in hell the Cardinals (or any NFL team for that matter) would ever pay a WR $23 million in a season, Larry Fitz is pretty much a free man after 2011. The hope there is that they can re-up him to some kind of reasonable extension before it ever gets to that point.

If you’re Ken Whisenhunt, you have to do what’s best for your team, and if you think that drafting a QB is what’s best, you do it. But at the same time, you do have to at least consider that by doing so, you’d be pissing off your best player, who as noted above, doesn’t have to play for your team anymore in 2012 if he doesn’t want to.

Larry Fitzgerald is no dope. He knows he’s pretty much an untouchable that can get away with making public comments like this. I think he’s basically saying “Get me a real QB, or I’m gone.” Awful for the Cardinals, good for any team trying to trade a QB.

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/

by JimmyK on Apr 13, 2011 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

good for any team trying to trade a QB

If only we know one…

"You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded." - Michael Scott

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Apr 13, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

knew *

Typos galore today.

"You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded." - Michael Scott

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Apr 13, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Draft Peterson/Miller

Trade for Kolb….do it! DO IT!!

FLY #7 FLY !!!

by BWestFactor on Apr 13, 2011 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

Here you go:

"You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded." - Michael Scott

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Apr 13, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

pop da trunk do it, do it, get a wif of that new car smell…

PHI "We Know Drama"

by DaaaBirdsDaBirds on Apr 13, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

haha

That’s the one…

FLY #7 FLY !!!

by BWestFactor on Apr 13, 2011 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

The best we can get for Kolb

are picks for next year’s draft. It’ll be great if a team can draft a player and later trade him for Kolb after a CBA is established but that is highly unlikely.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Mikesta on Apr 13, 2011 3:27 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

how is the cards OL

maybe they will draft a high OL, CB or LB that would help them wether they trade < player for kolb or not. that may be a solution to all of this.

PHI "We Know Drama"

by DaaaBirdsDaBirds on Apr 13, 2011 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

Kind of makes you appreciate our situation a little more

What a shitty predicament for AZ fans, they are sweatin Fitzgerald, one of the top 3 WRs who happens to be in his prime, leaving after 2011 if the organization does not provide him with a satisfactory QB while we are wondering whether we get a bounty of 2011 or a bounty of 2012 picks for our extra QB.

I guess it could be a lot worse in Philly.

Now lets get that CBA resolved so we can get back to football the way it was and the way it is supposed to be.

by The Reddgie on Apr 13, 2011 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

In other words:

I SAID, trade for Kolb muthaf#$@%$.

I-C-Y-U-H8-ME

by Qwest on Apr 13, 2011 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

I dont see anywhere that he said he doesnt want a QB drafted. Saying that he doubts something will happen isnt the same thing as saying that he doesnt want it to.
In the full article, he goes on to compliment Gabbert and Newton.
I think your title is misleading….

If you dont like Big Red, then F#%@ You!
-Ricky Bobby

by GreenInBaltimore on Apr 13, 2011 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

QBs in this year's Draft are crap (at least by traditional 1st Round standards)

Besides, the liklihood that one of the teams drafting in the Top 5 this year will be back in the same position next year is also pretty good. By this I mean, take the best positional player (outside of QB) this year. Play the best you can and know that if you are young and don’t get very far in 2011, you have a chance at Andrew Luck next year. Then you get your Franchise QB and you can pretty much expect you will get Ryan and Bradford like results without wasting a high round pick on an average QB.

Or you could go the Lions WR route and just take a QB every year until you get something that works. . . . . I could see the Panthers going that route, it would be sad, but not out of the realm of possibility . . . . .
2010 – 2nd Round – Clausen
2011 – 1st Round – Gabbert/Newton?
2012 – won’t be improved enough to not have a Top 5 pick, maybe they get Andrew Luck?
Not really a quality formula for success

by RE1D on Apr 13, 2011 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

Lions WR?

"Who's Been Eatin' Hummus" DJAX

Im not JIBTA.

by howard is better than pujols on Apr 13, 2011 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I completely agree

I’m not saying “throw” the draft. But any other year these “top” QB’s would be a late first early second round talent. This year since there is no better options in the draft they are in the top half. I’d much rather take a CB, DT, OT that is more of a “sure thing” the a QB that is mediocre talent wise or a huge risk.

First rounders you want to do everything to avoid making a bad/terrible pick. Take the safer option and maybe have better QB options next year.

by slandog on Apr 14, 2011 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Somebody get Larry Fitzgerald a medal.

Merry Vickmas everyone! * Falls into pile of snow DeSean style *
"It's simple, ... I'm always striving to do more. Whatever I accomplish, it's not enough. I don't get satisfied. That's not my nature." -Brian Dawkins
"Well as long as you want to get it right it's Princess Buttercup... Jackass." -Udalango

by d-jackfan10 on Apr 13, 2011 9:56 PM EDT reply actions

Let me point out

I am wondering in what draft position were most of the QBs that have won superbowls in the last ten years drafted. I am pretty sure most were not top ten picks. I know Brady wasn’t drafted in the first round I think he was a sixth rounder.

Brees was a second rounder.
Rogers was taken at the end of the first round.
Rothlesberger was like 11th in the first round or something
Both Mannings have the honor of being number one picks
Johnson on TB wasn’t a first rounder (but that team won on defense)
Warner was undrafted
Dilfer was ironically a first rounder – but he is perhaps the worst QB in this list.

I wonder what this says about taking a QB in the first round.

I know historically Elway was a number one pick
Farve was a second round pick
Montana was third round

Who knows. I would trade for something I knew could work rather than try to groom a kid who might fall apart and wreck my franchise for years to come.

by Claudius on Apr 14, 2011 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

Cardinals fan here...

What’s your community’s thoughts on Kolb? I’m crossing my fingers we don’t land him. No offense, but given what Kolb has shown it isn’t much more than what we got out of Leinart (Although Whisenhunt whiffed that whole situation last year). I can tell you there are many holes to fill, especially in the sieve we call an offensive line. On the topic of offensive lines, how did Reggie Wells play for you this season?

by Cardsfan928 on Apr 14, 2011 9:32 PM EDT reply actions