"Negotiations with the agent for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald are "ongoing," General Manager Rod Graves said, but it's doubtful a deal will be reached before Thursday, when the NFL's collective-bargaining agreement expires.

If a new CBA isn't reached by then, the owners likely would lock out the players, and no players can sign a contract until the matter is resolved.

"Obviously the window is getting shorter in terms of us being able to close something before the end of the (league) year," Graves said.

Though Fitzgerald has avoided the subject, there is no question he wants to see how the Cardinals address the quarterback position. Trading for the Broncos' Kyle Orton or the Eagles' Kevin Kolb, or signing free agent Marc Bulger, would help the Cardinals' chances, but none of those options can be explored without a new CBA.

The Cardinals think they have some time with which to work. Fitzgerald is under contract through the upcoming season, so it's not as if the Cardinals have to re-sign him before free agency opens this year. But it would behoove the Cardinals to do it before the season starts. If Fitzgerald doesn't have a new deal by then, hitting the open market becomes an even more-attractive option for him."