The Cardinals quarterback issues threatens to infect every part of their team this season. ESPN’s Ron Jaworski doesn’t believe Max Hall can get it done, and he thinks the effort level of the Cardinals wide receivers could be affected.
“Receivers begin to lose confidence in the quarterback. These aren’t things I’m making up. These are things I look at when I see the tape,” Jaworski said on 620 KTAR Thursday, saying receivers are becoming disinterested.
Everyone in Arizona is becoming concerned that Larry Fitzgerald will lose faith in the organization and not want to sign a contract extension this offseason. A headline in the Arizona Republic this week reads: " Arizona Cardinals must keep wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald happy.” (His deal runs out after the 2011 season. The Cardinals can’t franchise tag him.)
Fitzgerald has shown some frustration during games, but has said all the right things.
“I’m human. I want to be successful,” Fitzgerald said this week via the team’s website. “I have a burning desire to be great, not only as a player but as a team. Sometimes my emotions flow over but as a captain, I have to keep an even keel. I don’t want to give bad body language so my teammates don’t think I’m on the same page as them.”
Fitzgerald is on pace to gain fewer than 900 yards this year, which would be his worst mark by far since his rookie season. He hasn’t scored in a month.
“That must be hard for him,” receiver Stephen Williams said. “The end zone is like a home to him.”
Fitzgerald’s teammate Steve Breason will return this week, which should help the Cardinals passing attack. Meanwhile, coach Ken Whisenhunt will continue to try to solve a quarterback conundrum that is jeopardizing this season and possibly more to come if Fitzgerald decides he’s better off elsewhere down the line.