Cardinals' Fitzgerald preparing for season to start on time

NEW YORK (Reuters) - All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said on Friday he was preparing for the 2011 NFL season to start on time even though a labor dispute between the league and players could end in a lockout as early as next week.

Negotiations between the two sides are scheduled to resume March 1 but a federal mediator overseeing the labor talks said this week that while some progress has been made "very strong differences remain" on the core issues.

Those comments have not kept Fitzgerald, who has one year left on his own contract with the Cardinals, from putting off his usual offseason training routine.

"I'm going to continue to work out and do the same things I've done every year prior," said Fitzgerald, who led the Cardinals in receiving yards last season, during a live chat on the NFL Players Association website (www.nflplayers.com).

"Although there might be a short-term work stoppage, I believe the season will continue so I will continue to prepare for it to start on time."

NFL owners and players are trying to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires on March 4 in an attempt to avert a potential lockout.

Key issues include how league revenues will be split by the sides, the possible move to an 18-game regular season, a rookie wage scale and pensions for former players.

After seven days of lengthy talks, the mediator asked NFL team owners and the players union to assess their positions and reconvene on Tuesday.

"I don't think I'm any different from any other player -- my job is my livelihood, I want to play," said Fitzgerald. "It's important for us to hash out our differences and work out a deal that will let us continue to play the most popular game in the United States."

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by John Mehaffey)