The Facts: The season for the Cardinals has been over for several weeks, but a huge part of their future still hangs in the balance. As Super Bowl LI approaches and most teams are deep in planning for 2017, Arizona's brass still don't have an answer on whether quarterback Carson Palmer or Fitzgerald will return for 2017 or retire. Both are contemplating walking away and have been for some time. Neither has told the team if he plans to return, though both Palmer and Fitzgerald have had frequent conversations with coaches and team decision-makers about it, sources said.

Diehards Line:According NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, there is no hard-and-fast deadline, but the team wants to know by the middle of February to collaborate on plans entering free agency, considering the monetary impact would be significant. Key team people think both will come back, but that might be based on hope. The reality is, few know. There have been no guarantees. Last offseason, Fitzgerald told KMVP-FM that the two stalwarts walking away together is something to consider. On his future, Fitz said, "A lot of it's tied to Carson." In fact, a source informed of Fitz's thinking told Rapoport that if Palmer walks away, it might be harder for Fitzgerald to return unless he knows who will replace Palmer. ... We'll obviously be following up in coming weeks.