"Receiver Larry Fitzgerald has said several times this off-season that he wants to remain with the Cardinals. The Cardinals are ready to test his sincerity.

General Manager Rod Graves planned to reopen negotiations with Fitzgerald's agent Monday and thinks an agreement can be reached before the season starts Sept. 11.

"If Larry is sincere about his willingness to remain here, then I believe we'll get a deal worked out before the start of the season," Graves said. "He says he is (sincere), and I believe him. A lot will be said for that once we enter into our talks."

Fitzgerald's agent, Eugene Parker, said last week he is ready to talk whenever the Cardinals are. Parker did not return phone messages Monday.

Fitzgerald is in the last year of a four-year, $40 million deal. He has clauses in the contract preventing the Cardinals from trading him or using franchise and transition tags to restrict him in free agency.

"I don't want to leave Arizona," Fitzgerald said after practice Monday morning. "This is where I started. I feel like this is my family. I want to be here as long as I possibly can."

Graves promised to make Fitzgerald the highest-paid player on the team and among the higher paid in the NFL.

Barring an injury, Fitzgerald will become the NFL's highest-paid receiver, and it's realistic to think his new contract could average $15 million a year.

The Cardinals are ready to pay whatever it takes. Money and space under the salary cap won't be a problem. And the Cardinals think they've addressed another area of concern: proving to Fitzgerald that last season's 5-11 was an anomaly."