The Cardinals and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald were discussing a contract extension prior to the NFL lockout. Fitzgerald's contract ends after the 2011 season. Arizona continues to insist a deal will get done while Fitzgerald continues to insist he wants to remain in Arizona. According to Darren Urban, money won't be an issue. "Money will not be an issue," he writes. "The Cardinals are expected to meet Fitzgerald's desires in that area. As last season progressed, however, Fitzgerald talked more and more about wanting to make sure he played for a winner. He was always careful not to talk about having a better quarterback – Fitzgerald is too smart for that – but it was not difficult to read between the lines."

The Cardinals are hoping guard Alan Faneca decides to return next season instead of opting for retirement. Arizona has told him that they want him back, but they don't want to push him either. They would certainly benefit from knowing what his plans are prior to the draft so a potential replacement can be selected.

Cardinals owners Bill and Michael Bidwill were part of a team contingent at a private workout for QB Blaine Gabbert on the Missouri campus Wednesday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, GM Rod Graves and personnel chief Steve Keim also were spotted in attendance at Gabbert's workout, the source said.

Of the teams that are looking into trading for Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb, the Cardinals are the most interested, according to a source. One team has offered Philadelphia a first-round pick and numerous teams have made serious offers.

After reports broke out on Wednesday afternoon that talk of an 18-game season had been taken off the table, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald tweeted in celebration. "My body is cheering after hearing the 18 game season talk is off the table!" Fitzgerald wrote on his Twitter page. The NFL and NFLPA have been engaged in intense labor negotiations for more than two weeks. The current collective bargaining agreement will expire on Friday night.

Larry Fitzgerald is looking forward to signing a long-term contract extension with the Cardinals. Fitzgerald said on Wednesday that he is "not really" interested in testing the free-agent market. The wide receiver is entering the final year of a four-year, $40 million contract he signed in 2008. He is "absolutely" hopeful that he can work out an extension with the Cardinals. Fitzgerald said "progress was being made" in contract talks between his agent and the Cardinals.

Adding Marc Bulger might be enough for the Cardinals to convince Larry Fitzgerald to sign a long-term extension. Fitzgerald is unlikely to agree to anything until the team improves their quarterback situation. "I think Bulger might satisfy Fitz, provided the Cardinals pay him a boatload," one team insider said. "He likes (Cardinals head coach Ken) Whisenhunt. But Fitz is a hard guy to read. He knows how to turn on the charm and answer questions. It's hard to find out what he's really thinking."