The Facts: The restructuring of Fitzgerald's contract appears no closer to fruition than it was a month ago, and the rumblings of frustration are growing within the organization. Without a contract agreement, a day of reckoning is coming for the Cardinals. They are going to face the prospect of trading Fitzgerald or losing him a year from now, when they might have to cut him rather than pay his 2009 salary of $17.4 million.

Diehards Line:As previously noted, both sides have said -- and are still saying -- all the right things. The Cardinals insist Fitzgerald will play for them in 2008, even at a salary of $14.6 million, whether a new deal is reached or not. That hasn't prevented other teams from trying to trade for him. The Eagles have talked to the Cardinals about acquiring Fitzgerald and the Redskins are said to be keeping a close eye on negotiations. ... Meanwhile, as Republic staffer Kent Somers suggests, the impact of the Fitzgerald situation reverberates throughout the organization. It calls into question Fitzgerald's sincerity and commitment to winning, Rod Graves' acumen as a general manager and owner Bill Bidwill's willingness to pay top players as such.