August 16th, 2011 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports Arizona Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s deal includes a clause that prevents the Cardinals from slapping their franchise tag on him after this season, according to two sources who have reviewed the contract.
This means that if Fitzgerald is not signed to an extension before his contract expires at the end of this season, he would have the ability to leave Arizona in the off-season, without any restrictions.
The “no-franchise-tag” clause was included in the four-year, $40 million contract extension that Fitzgerald signed in March 2008.
Fitzgerald and the Cardinals already have been discussing a new contract extension that, if consummated, would be staggering in scope.
But unless Fitzgerald is comfortable with the deal and with Arizona, he would have the option of walking away from it and the franchise, a prospect the Cardinals want to, and are trying to, avoid.
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You’d look great in BIG BLUE, Larry!