Fitzgerald says he'd pitch in to keep Boldin

[January 29, 2009]  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Larry Fitzgerald would look at restructuring his contract if it would help keep fellow Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin on the team.

"Someone asked me a question if I would be willing to do something to help the team, and I said, `No problem,' " Fitzgerald said Wednesday. "This opportunity right here to be playing deep in the postseason, this is an amazing feeling. I'll do whatever it takes to get back to this point going forward in my career."

The question came up as the Cardinals prepared for Sunday's Super Bowl matchup with Pittsburgh.

Fitzgerald and Boldin form arguably the best receiving tandem in the NFL. Fitzgerald caught 96 passes for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns in the regular season. Boldin, despite missing four games with injuries, caught 89 passes for 1,038 yards and 11 scores. Both players made the Pro Bowl.

Boldin said he appreciated Fitzgerald's offer.

"Fitz and I have been together for five years, and we've been through a lot together," Boldin said. "I think the relationship that we have, neither of us want to see broken up. There's mutual respect, not only as receivers but as friends, and we realize that we make each other's jobs easier."

Boldin said in training camp that he would never re-sign with Arizona and would like to be traded because he feels management lied to him by not following through on a promise for a new contract. His latest comments indicate his position had softened.

Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million contract after the 2007 season, with $30 million guaranteed.

Boldin has two years left on the four-year, $22.75 million contract he signed after the 2005 season. The deal paid him about $4 million this season.

General manager Rod Graves said he hoped to reopen contract talks with Boldin's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, after the title game.

[Associated Press; By BOB BAUM]

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