Is Larry Fitzgerald done? It's the top question in Phoenix sports

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Dec 26, 2020; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) leaves the field after the last home game of the season at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cheryl Evans-Arizona Republic

There’s rather a lot happening round right here, so let’s play 21 questions for the second half of 2021 in Phoenix sports activities.

Cardinals: Contenders

1. Is Larry Fitzgerald coming again?

It could happen.

The Cardinals decisionmakers have stated they’ll discover a spot for him if he needs to play, and the NFL has retained a rule enacted final yr that offers basic managers extra flexibility with their rosters.

Fitzgerald could possibly be wherever between Scottsdale and Sri Lanka, however this squad must be tempting for a man who may need yet one more shot at a Tremendous Bowl ring.

2. Are the Cardinals actually contenders?

Does a chicken have a beak?

If every little thing works out for the very best, the Cardinals may have 9 guys who find yourself within the Corridor of Fame. We’re projecting tougher than a man who owns a movie show, however give it some thought.

On offense, Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, Rodney Hudson and Fitzgerald (if he comes again) all may as effectively have Canton programmed into their Google Maps.

On protection, Chandler Jones and JJ Watt are two of the very best ever. Budda Baker is without doubt one of the recreation’s greatest safeties, and people younger guys taking part in linebacker make you surprise what Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs had been like of their early 20s.

If these guys aren’t considering Tremendous Bowl, then they aren’t setting their objectives excessive sufficient.

3. What concerning the secondary?

Lemme guess, you suppose it’s going to be an issue that Patrick Peterson has moved on to purpler pastures in Minnesota?

Possibly. But it surely’s rather a lot simpler to cowl wider receivers when their quarterbacks are in concern of being drilled two steps right into a three-step drop.

4. Is Murray actually among the many recreation’s elite?

Throughout the first half of final season, he was merely unstoppable. If he can play like that for a full 16 video games, this query will probably be downright foolish.

5. However what about the remainder of the NFC West?

What about it. One of the best groups deal with themselves, not their opponents.

Diamondbacks: A misplaced trigger

6. So, how about these Diamondbacks?

Sorry, by no means heard of them.

7. C’mon, man, severely. What can these guys do to start out profitable video games?

They might begin with protecting their greatest gamers. It’s mighty miserable to go searching the large leagues and see unbelievable gamers like Paul Goldschmidt, Zack Greinke, JD Martinez, Taijuan Walker and Max Scherzer, who all used to play right here.

Common Supervisor Mike Hazen has stepped apart as his spouse battles most cancers, displaying his priorities are in the appropriate place. However the remainder of the front-office workers has plenty of work to do.

8. Ought to Torey Lovullo lose his job?

There’s no method that’s a severe query. Buck O’Neil couldn’t discover the optimism essential to encourage this group to beat the Dodgers and Padres.

9. What occurred to Ketel Marte? He’s alleged to be probably the greatest gamers within the Nationwide League.

Marte has been out and in of the lineup with leg injuries, however staff docs ought to test him for a damaged again after attempting to hold the staff by himself for 2 years.

He performs each place in the course of the infield and swings a bat like Paul Bunyan swings an ax.

The Diamondbacks have plenty of issues, however he isn’t one among them.

10. OK, so what ought to they do?

They might begin by getting an proprietor who treats his staff like a staff and never some type of funding. Three low cost reduction pitchers are by no means nearly as good as one costly starter.

Mercury: Time to rise

11. Mercury stars Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi all have shiny new gold medals, why are they scuffling round .500?

Good query. Count on them to select it up within the second half of the season. There’s not a staff within the league that desires any a part of this group within the playoffs. Coach Sandy Brondello simply has to determine a solution to preserve them within the combine.

12. How awkward should that locker room be?

On their solution to a gold medal, Griner, Diggins-Smith and Taurasi beat Brondello, who coached the Australian nationwide staff. If the Mercury Huge Three have any humorousness in any respect, it should result in infinite ribbing throughout movie research.

Brondello: “C’mon, DT, you’ve received to make the additional move there.”

Taurasi: “Hey, Coach, I’ve a gold medal that claims you don’t know what you’re speaking about!”

13. Does Taurasi have sufficient left at this stage of her profession to steer a playoff push?

Most likely not, however that shouldn’t matter. This staff will go so far as Griner can carry it.

Taurasi is in her seventeenth yr, so it’s foolish to anticipate her to tear up the league each evening. Plus, she’s been up and down with accidents all season.

However they name her GOAT for a purpose. She performed 19 minutes a recreation in profitable her fifth Olympic gold medal. So if anyone can get it executed, it’s the White Mamba, which was her character in “Space Jam 2.”

14. What about Diggins-Smith?

She’s all proper. She didn’t play a lot within the gold medal recreation, however the squad was loaded with guards together with veterans Taurasi and Sue Chicken, who’ve 10 gold medals between them.

Diggins-Smith already is among the many WNBA leaders in scoring and assists.

Simply think about if she has a chip on her shoulder about not taking part in extra within the Olympics.

15. So can we rely on Griner?

If she’s locked in, mark her down for 20 and 10 earlier than tipoff. However the Mercury star may be, effectively, mercurial.

She left the WNBA bubble final yr to guard her sanity. It labored, apparently, as a result of this season, Griner is among the many WNBA’s high 5 in scoring and rebounding — plus she put 30 on Japan within the gold medal recreation.

Suns: Run it again

16. Did the Suns do the appropriate factor by bringing again Chris Paul?

Paul took the Suns to the NBA Finals two years after they received 19 video games. Overlook $40 million a season, they need to have given him an fairness stake within the staff.

17. However there’s no method the Suns championship window remains to be open, did you see what the Lakers did?

The Lakers added Russell Westbrook, Trevor Ariza, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony, and we will scent the Ben-Homosexual from right here.

LA has 4 of the NBA’s top-five lively leaders in all-time video games performed.

However should you’ve ever seen 5 40-somethings bust up a bunch of youngsters in an open run on the rec heart, you understand to not take the Lakers calmly.

Nonetheless, Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker are of their primes. Phoenix followers have to love their probabilities towards their archrivals.

18. Is Ayton price a rookie max?

It’s not my cash, however I’d signal him.

Ayton simply turned 23. He averaged 16 factors and 12 rebounds within the playoffs. The Suns had been 7-1 in playoff video games the place he grabbed 14 or extra rebounds. And he’s nonetheless studying the best way to play within the publish.

19. Is Landry Shamet a superb addition?

Completely. You hate to lose a man like Jevon Carter, a team-first defensive reserve. However Shamet can play. The Suns have had their eye on him for the reason that 2018 draft.

20. And JaVale McGee?

Hear, if the Suns had McGee within the finals, there’s no method Giannis Antetokounmpo would have scored 50 within the close-out recreation.

Another factor …

21. Why didn’t you tackle ASU soccer?

Uggh. That’s 21 questions all by itself.

Attain Moore at [email protected] or 602-444-2236. Comply with him on Instagram and Twitter @SayingMoore.

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