Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald runs Sunday against the Saints after one of his NFL-leading 98 receptions this season.
Larry Fitzgerald punted the question Sunday night about whether or not the loss to the Saints possibly could have been his last one at University of Phoenix Stadium, saying that he was going to play these final two games and then see what happens in the offseason.
It sounded like a man who wanted to see how the Cardinals put together a roster for 2017 -- and what that meant for them to be competitive, because at this point in his career, that's all Fitzgerald seeks.
Monday night, as part of his weekly interview with Jim Gray on Westwood One's "Monday Night Football" pregame radio show -- presented by University of Phoenix, of course -- Fitzgerald was asked again about whether he is thinking about retirement.
Gray said to Fitzgerald that he took Fitzgerald's postgame comments after the Saints game as an indication he was contemplating and "probably will" retire. Gray then asked if that was an accurate assessment.
"I wouldn't say that I'm contemplating it right now," Fitzgerald said, "but I'm uncertain of what I am going to do moving forward. I still love the game, I love the competition, I love being around the guys and competing for a championship. That's a lot of fun for me. That's kind of where I am at right now. I'm really just focused on these last two games."
Gray followed up by noting Fitz has one year left on his contract and he's tops in the NFL with 98 catches, so why would he leave while playing so well?
"I don't play for the personal accolades or catches or yards," Fitzgerald said. "Those are all wonderful footnotes at the end of the day but Jim, you know, you've been around sports a long time. You play to win. And when you are sitting at home, watching other teams compete for a championship that you so dearly want, it puts a bitter, bitter taste in your mouth."
Fitzgerald needs 12 receptions the final two weeks to surpass his own franchise record of 109 catches that he set last season. He has 949 yards receiving and five touchdowns, although he has not scored since the Thursday night game in San Francisco in Week 5.
He is under contract for 2017, after signing a contract extension in training camp.
