"All signs are pointing in that direction. His contract expires after 2011 and he could opt not to sign with an eye on hitting free agency. He has a clause in his contract that won't allow him to be franchised, so he is holding some leverage here.

Fitzgerald could wait to see what Arizona does about its quarterback situation. If nothing major happens and it looks like the team will struggle again next season, he could play things out and then hit the open market. Thing is, that's a gamble. If he has a sub-par season, whether it's his fault or not, his appeal might not be as high as it once was and he could sell himself short.

Plus, all it takes is one injury to jeopardize his career and having some financial security is always a player's main concern.

The Cardinals have to be careful, though. Should they play hardball with Fitzgerald, they'll lose him. Following a season in which they parted with so many key veterans, letting go of a player as beloved as Fitzgerald could seriously damage relations with the fan base."