Championship quest chief motivation for Fitzgerald

Training camp is a drag at this point in Larry Fitzgerald’s long and accomplished NFL career. Still, the quest for the ring is the main reason the 14-year veteran continues to play.

The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver said he isn’t sure what his future holds as far as retirement.

Fitzgerald, 33, said he feels good, and, when retirement comes, there won’t be a podium or tears because “that’s not who I am.”

Yet it is important to him to be productive as a player when he decides to step away. Fitzgerald admitted it would be a struggle to accept a diminished role due to not being able to give 100 percent.

Fitzgerald has asked others who are closer to retirement or have retired — Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Tony Gonzalez — about their thought process going into it.

Coach Bruce Arians has said

Fitzgerald won’t play in the Cardinals’ exhibition opener, the annual Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 3 against Dallas. Quarterback Carson Palmer also will not play.