The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to sign veteran Larry Fitzgerald due to a shortage at the wide receiver position last season. This was confirmed by former coach Bruce Arians.

Munich/Tampa – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tried to sign wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald late in the season last season.

Former head coach Bruce Arians confirmed this to the radio station “Arizona Sports 98.7”. He said the 69-year-old contacted Fitzgerald when the Bucs were shorthanded at the wide receiver position last year, but the veteran told him he wasn’t in competitive shape.

“Called Fitz “

“When we lost our guys, especially when Chris Godwin got hurt, I called Fitz. He said, ‘Coach, I can’t run two plays right now, but thanks.’ I said, ‘I just needed to check it out,'” Arians reported.

The 38-year-old is an 11-time Pro Bowler and played under Arians for five seasons in Arizona. Fitzgerald didn’t play a single game last season and apparently felt at the end of the year that he wasn’t physically up to it either. However, the long-time star receiver has not officially ended his career.