Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald spoke glowingly of the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick in an interview with ESPN.com, describing himself as “a fan” of Belichick and suggesting that, thanks to their wealth of draft picks, New England should remain a force to come for years. Fitzgerald told the website that he met Belichick prior to the 2004 draft (in which the receiver was taken by Arizona with the No. 3 overall pick), and that the Pats’ emphasis on “a cerebral kind of football player” has paid remarkable dividends over the long haul.

“I think it all starts with the head coach [Bill Belichick]. He does a fantastic job, week in and week out, keeping his guys mentally prepared to go out there and play,” Fitzgerald told ESPN.com. “He’s the only coach in history to have four seasons with 14 wins, and that alone, speaks volumes of what he’s able to accomplish, especially in that [AFC East] division. I think you’re looking at the NFL’s strongest division, from top to bottom. If Buffalo played in the NFC West, they’d probably win the NFC West. That’s a strong, strong division and he’s found a way to win it [eight] times. It’s astonishing.”

Fitzgerald has one year left on a four-year, $40 million deal signed after the 2007 season. The deal prohibits Arizona from using its franchise or transition tag on him, and so Fitzgerald, 27, could become an unrestricted free agent after the 2011 football season. He and the Cardinals have reportedly opened talks on a new deal, but Fitzgerald told ESPN.com that his decisions about his future will be guided by a straightforward motive.

“I’m under contract with Arizona for another season, and I would love to be there winning a championship,” he said. “That’s where I started and I love it out there. But my goal, of course, is to win. I want to win at all costs.”

Fitzgerald had 90 catches for 1,137 yards and six touchdowns in 2010. In his seven NFL seasons, he has averaged 88 catches, 1,172 yards and nine TDs per season.