Fitzgerald: nO urge to play RIGHT NOW
Cardinals 11-time Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald said he doesn’t have the desire to play an 18th NFL season, though he left the possibility open that he might resume his career.
In an interview on SiriusXM Radio with Jim Gray on Mad Dog Sports Radio, Fitzgerald said he’s focused on being a radio broadcaster.
“To be honest with you, I just don’t have the urge to play right now,” Fitzgerald said in the interview. “I don’t know how I’ll feel in September, October, November, moving forward, but I just, today, I just don’t have that urge. And I think I have to be respectful of that. Football is not one of those games you want to walk out there and play and not be fully engaged and ready to prepare and do the things necessary that you need to do.”
The 37-year-old has put together 17 of the most consistent and productive seasons for a wide receiver in NFL history. He hasn’t been at the Cardinals’ preseason camp in Glendale, Arizona, for the last month. Coach Kliff Kingsbury and teammates have said consistently they’re not sure of Fitzgerald’s football plans. The Cardinals signed veteran receiver A.J. Green during the offseason.
Known by many Cardinals fans as “Larry Legend,” Fitzgerald has played his entire career in the desert. He has 1,432 catches for 17,492 yards. Both of those numbers rank second in NFL history behind Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.
Browns, Giants have testy joint practice
Tempers flared during the second joint practice between the Giants and Browns, with Browns cornerback Troy Hill and Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard squaring off and throwing punches at each other well after the session ended.
Hill and Shepard were part of a group of players mingling in the middle of the two practice fields after the tense, two-hour workout in humid weather conditions when they suddenly began swinging.
Shepard, who ducked under a wild punch from Hill, then pulled off his shirt as he walked away to do an interview with New York media members. He didn’t mention the incident with Hill before boarding one of the team buses waiting nearby.
“It was friendly competition,” Shepard said. “That’s what we came out here for is competition. It’s going to get into a talking match, it’s going to get physical out there. This is football, this is what we do. They understand that on their side, we understand that over here.”
The two practices were a warmup to Sunday’s exhibition game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
In other Browns news, linebacker Jacob Phillips tore his biceps and could miss most of the season.
Mahomes, murray make preseason debutS
Patrick Mahomes started and completed 10 of 18 passes for 78 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in a 17-10 preseason win over the Cardinals. He led two 15-play drives in his most extensive action so far this preseason.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray saw his first preseason action, playing the first three series. He was 1-for-4 passing for two yards and gained eight yards on the ground. Arizona, though, didn’t get a first down on any of the possessions.
this and that
The Saints are signing former Pro Bowl kicker Aldrick Rosas and veteran safety Jeff Heath, according to NFL Network.
The Chargers put safety Nasir Adderly and corner Ryan Smith on the COVID-19 list. Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders tested positive for COVID-19 but is asymptomatic.