"Whenever they are allowed to begin the pursuit of a new starting quarterback, the Cardinals will consider all the usual factors and a single unusual one: Will the deal help them re-sign receiver Larry Fitzgerald?

Fitzgerald is entering the last year of his contract, and the team desperately wants to keep him. His contract prevents the Cardinals from trading him or restricting him in free agency by using the franchise or transition tags.

That leaves the Cardinals two ways to convince Fitzgerald to re-sign: money, and the acquisition of a starting quarterback.

The Cardinals are prepared to make Fitzgerald the NFL's highest-paid receiver, but a lot of other teams will be, too, if Fitzgerald hits the free agent market in 2012.

Fitzgerald gets paid whether he stays or goes."