Larry Fitzgerald News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 21

Arizona Republic

"There are tougher ways to earn a living than writing about football (pretty much any other job), but watching practices can become tedious. After the first couple thousand, workouts tend to look pretty much like same, like heads of lettuce. One day, on the sideline of a practice field, I calculated in my head the number of practices I've attended, and then quickly forgot the number because it was so disturbing. On occasion, however, you see something that makes you stop and look at the person next to you to make sure it really happened. That was the case a couple of months ago when the Cardinals were working on their goal-line offense. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald split to the left and at ..."

Fitzgerald honors mother

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October 9

Arizona Republic

columnist Paola Boivin

""We saw death a lot," Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "We saw people pass away." It came with the territory if you were the son of Carol Fitzgerald, whose life Larry will honor during Sunday's Cardinals-Texans game as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She not only was an investigator for the Minnesota Department of Heath but a philanthropist who founded Circle of Love, an HIV support group. Her sons often were in tow during these meetings. He wants you to know Carol's story. When she discovered a lump in her breast when Larry was 13, the subsequent diagnosis of cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes was upsetting, but the family, thanks to Carol, was equipped to ..."

Texans set sights on stopping Fitzgerald

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October 8

Houston Chronicle

"Sports Illustrated covers. Recurring highlight-reel roles. Postseason records. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was "the man" during Arizona's run to the Super Bowl last season. Fitzgerald is a marked man now, and the Cardinals are still working through the adjustment period. Early opponents have succeeded in taking the deep pass play away from the Cardinals, who already have lost both of their home games in defense of their first NFC title. But Fitzgerald is encouraged by what he has seen in film of the Texans this season. "They are going to be up in your face. They are going to pressure you. They are going to be after you," Fitzgerald said. "We have to take some shots down the field, ..."

Simply put, a 'great player'

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September 25

Indianapolis Star

"As the impressionable young son of a sportswriter, Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald met some of Minnesota's biggest sports names. The brushes with greatness had a profound impact. "I was around Kirby Puckett, taking batting practice, joking around and catching fly balls with him before games,'' Fitzgerald said of the former Twins outfielder. "I was at shootarounds with (former Timberwolves forward) Kevin Garnett when I was a child. I was at practice with (retired Vikings receiver) Cris Carter. "At a young age, I really kind of saw what I wanted to do and what it was going to take to get there. I saw the work ethic and I saw how much it meant to them. Not only do you have to have a ..."

Cards unfazed by Fitzgerald tweets

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September 24

Arizona Republic

"It will take more than a tweet to send the relationship between Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and quarterback Kurt Warner all a twitter. Both spent part of Wednesday laughing off tweets made by Fitzgerald's younger brother, Marcus, during the Cardinals game Sunday against the Jaguars. According to Marcus, his older brother was irritated at not getting the ball enough. And Marcus referred to Warner as an "old man." "I kind of chuckled about it because everyone in here (the locker room) knows about me and Kurt's relationship," Larry Fitzgerald said. "That's never going to be affected by anything outlandish like that. That's what being friends is about." Not that Warner let the tweets ..."

Coach not worried about Fitzgerald

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September 22

Arizona Republic

"Don't worry about Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald turning into Terrell Owens - at least when it comes to whining about not getting enough passes thrown his way. Though Fitzgerald was tied for 44th in the NFL in receiving yards after Sunday's 31-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, nobody on the Cardinals is concerned about Fitzgerald becoming the next diva receiver. In fact, he's quite the opposite, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Yeah, I would say so," he said Monday. Fitzgerald, who caught four passes for 34 yards and a touchdown, bringing his two-game season total to 10 for 105 yards and two scores, was not animated about not getting enough touches. What he was excited ..."

Fitzgerald emerging as team leader

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August 4

Arizona Republic

"A year ago at training camp, Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley teased receiver Larry Fitzgerald about being a one-trick pony. Could Fitzgerald do more than run down the sideline and out-jump smaller defenders for the ball? Could he learn to run after the catch? Create more separation with his routes? Haley's barbs were exaggerated to make a point, but Fitzgerald took them to heart. He displayed an array of receiving and running skills in helping the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl. He turned in one of the best-ever postseasons for a receiver, setting records for receptions, yards and touchdowns. So, as the 2009 season begins, it's fair to wonder not only whether Fitzgerald can ..."

Fear of failure fuels Fitzgerald

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August 2

East Valley Tribune

columnist Scott Bordow

"Cornerback Bryant McFadden thought he knew what made Larry Fitzgerald special. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound frame he uses to shield defenders. His extraordinary leaping ability. Hands that can pluck a football out of the air while being slapped at by two defenders. Cornerback Bryant McFadden thought he knew what made Larry Fitzgerald special. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound frame he uses to shield defenders. His extraordinary leaping ability. Hands that can pluck a football out of the air while being slapped at by two defenders. Then McFadden signed a free-agent contract with the Cardinals in the offseason and discovered the truth. "It's hard to imagine a guy like that is still so hungry after ..."

Fitzgerald OK after awkward catch

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June 2

Arizona Republic

"For a minute or two, it looked as if the first day of June would bring gloom to the Cardinals. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald landed awkwardly while making a sideline catch over cornerback Bryant McFadden in voluntary practice Monday. Fitzgerald did the splits as he landed, his legs twisting as they went opposite directions. Fitzgerald, one of the NFL's best receivers, walked gingerly away, head athletic trainer Tom Reed at his side, and then returned to action later in practice. You could have powered a generator with the sighs of relief. "The only thing I said to Michael Bidwill (team president) is I was sorry I didn't beat Tom Reed over there to evaluate him," General Manager Rod Graves ..."

Fitzgerald's off-season offers a few parallels

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May 3

Arizona Republic

"Football fields are just like the plains of Africa. Only the strong survive. The only exception is in Detroit, where the lions have no teeth. Larry Fitzgerald witnessed the parallel up close and personal. After visiting the troops in Iraq and touring the pyramids of Egypt, the Cardinals wide receiver spent time at the Kruger National Park in South Africa. And you thought the Steelers defense was intimidating? Fitzgerald saw a leopard drag a gazelle into a tree. "He ripped it apart, and everything inside hit the ground," Fitzgerald said. "There were hyenas down there, and they just tore it apart. Blood was flying everywhere." He saw a leopard snatch a baby from the womb of a Cape buffalo. ..."

Another Fitzgerald takes his own route to the NFL

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May 1

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Marcus Fitzgerald attended a handful of regular-season games in which his older brother, Arizona Cardinals standout Larry Jr., played last year. Marcus also was in attendance throughout the playoffs as Larry's numerous receptions helped the Cardinals reach the Super Bowl. While Marcus was proud, he also longed for the chance to demonstrate his own skills. That wasn't possible after the wide receiver suffered a torn hamstring while doing the 40-yard dash at his 2008 Pro Day at Marshall. The injury meant Marcus didn't have the opportunity to catch on with a team in the spring and he ended up spending his time in the Twin Cities working out and keeping his focus on getting a chance. That ..."

Fitzgerald featured on video game cover

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April 24

Arizona Republic

"Like many people his age, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald grew up playing the Madden NFL video games. A big Vikings fan, Fitzgerald loved to have quarterback Daunte Culpepper throwing deep to Randy Moss. Now, Fitzgerald, 25, is on the video game's cover for 2010, long hair flowing out of the back of his helmet, face to face with Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu. The cover was announced Friday morning, and Fitzgerald is in New York doing promotional work. It's no accident that the Cardinals open the preseason against the Steelers on Aug. 13, the day before the video game is released. "It's a unique year," Fitzgerald said. "It's the first time in the game's history that two guys ..."

Larry Fitzgerald leads the NFC over the AFC

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February 9

Honolulu Star-Bulletin

"The game-winning catch Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald longed for in the Super Bowl arrived a week late. His 2-yard touchdown reception from New York's Eli Manning with 4:03 left put the NFC ahead for good en route to a 30-21 win yesterday over the AFC before an announced Aloha Stadium crowd of 49,958. Fitzgerald thought his stunning 64-yard scoring catch at last week's Super Bowl would lead the Cardinals to a huge win, only to see Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes upstage him late with his tiptoe tap dance from 6 yards out. And while the talented Cardinals receiver would trade weekends no questions asked, his two-TD performance in yesterday's NFL All-Star game will have to do. Fitzgerald caught ..."

A record performance becomes afterthought

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February 2

San Francisco Chronicle

"In a span of two minutes, Larry Fitzgerald's multiple playoff records and rousing second-half pass-catching comeback were reduced to Super Bowl XLIII minutiae. The NFL's best receiver had only one catch in the first half but rebounded with six receptions in the Cardinals' frenzied comeback from a 13-point third-quarter deficit. Two of those catches resulted in touchdowns, a 1-yard pass from Kurt Warner and a beautiful 64-yard catch-and-run that allowed Fitzgerald to watch himself cross the goal line on Raymond James Stadium's JumboTron. He finished with 30 receptions for 546 yards and seven touchdowns in four playoff games, establishing NFL records in all three categories for a single ..."

Super Bowl report: Fitzgerald's pyrotechnics for naught

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February 2

Rocky Mountain News

"Larry Fitzgerald was like a ticking time bomb that finally went off in the fourth quarter Sunday. Limited to one catch for 12 yards through the first 45 minutes of the game while facing numerous double teams, and with his team trailing by 13 points, the Arizona Cardinals receiver lived up to his pregame billing as one of the NFL's pre-eminent stars. He nearly willed his team to victory late. Fitzgerald had four catches, capped by a leaping, two-handed 1-yard scoring reception to pull the Cards close. He then helped put Arizona ahead 23-20 by splitting Pittsburgh's cover-2 defense and sprinting down the vacated middle of the field for a 64-yard touchdown. "In the second half, we put Larry ..."

Cardinals' game plan didn't include Larry Fitzgerald enough

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February 2

Chicago Tribune

columnist Dan Pompei

"The play-by-play sheet says the Cardinals lost to the Steelers with 35 seconds left in the game, but really, they lost to the Steelers before the fourth quarter ever began. The Cardinals might have put the game away long before Santonio Holmes' dramatic touchdown if Larry Fitzgerald had played a bigger role in the Super Bowl production than the third saxophonist from the right in the Bethune-Cookman Marching Wildcats band. "The Steelers wanted to take me out of the game," Fitzgerald said. "I would be lying if I told you I wasn't a little bit [frustrated]. But I knew I had to keep my composure and keep playing." Here is everything you need to know about the Cardinals' offensive game plan in ..."

Fitzgerald's late heroics not enough

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February 2

East Valley Tribune

"The final numbers in Super Bowl XLIII showed yet another huge postseason game for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Seven catches, 127 yards and two touchdowns are the stuff MVPs are made of. But, much like the Cardinals' offense as a whole, the bulk of that total came in the final quarter as Arizona nearly pulled off the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. Fitzgerald was held to just one catch through three quarters as the Steelers often disrupted him by playing him close to the line. And the Steelers got enough of a pass rush that, although they didn't sack Kurt Warner often, it was too late for him to get the ball to Fitzgerald by the time the receiver got past the coverage at ..."

Fitzgerald gave Cards a chance to win

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February 2

Arizona Republic

"He was the story line before the story. Larry Fitzgerald entered his first Super Bowl as the postseason's most dynamic performer. Just give him the ball, and the Cardinals surely would have a chance. The longhaired, laidback receiver nearly pulled it off in Sunday's 27-23 loss. Fitzgerald set postseason records for receiving yardage (546), receptions (30) and touchdowns (seven), but the disappointing finish trumped his accomplishments. "I just feel empty right now, to be honest," Fitzgerald said. "Kind of like it was all for nothing." On the biggest stage of his career, in a postseason that has hosted his national coming-out party, Fitzgerald caught seven passes for 127 yards and two ..."

A dad's proud moment - and a mom's legacy

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January 30

Miami Herald

columnist Greg Cote

"Everything about the Super Bowl has grown so big, so oversized. It's nationwide. Gone global. It can seem all corporate and cold. So it's refreshing when, once in a while, something about the game can be distilled to its essence and seem as small and intensely personal as a warm embrace, or a snapshot in a family album. ``Hi, Dad.'' You heard it spoken at one of the media sessions here this week. Simple, routine words but rather remarkable in context. The speaker was Larry Fitzgerald, the Arizona Cardinals' phenomenal young receiver who just happens to be the best player in this NFL championship game. The recipient of the casual greeting was Larry Fitzgerald -- the other one, the original ..."

Fitzgerald's hands elevate his status

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January 29

Arizona Republic

"Larry Fitzgerald doesn't have the whole world in his hands. It just seems like it. The way he pulls footballs out of the sky is becoming legendary. It could be immortalized Sunday in Super Bowl XLIII if the Cardinals receiver continues his postseason pattern with another clutch performance. Already having surpassed Jerry Rice's NFL record for most receiving yards (419) in the playoffs (in the same number of games, three, that Rice needed), Fitzgerald's transformation from great player to megastar in a month is among the faster climbs by an athlete in pro sports history. And it's all because of the hands. They're so big you lose sight of your own hand when he reaches out to shake it. ..."

Cards' Larry Fitzgerald caught on at young age

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January 29

New York Daily News

columnist Tim Smith

"For the last two decades, Larry Fitzgerald has been preparing to scale the heights of professional football. Growing up in Minneapolis as the son of a sports writer, he was exposed to superb athletes on a regular basis. As a ball boy for the Vikings, Fitzgerald got to observe and talk to talented receivers such as Cris Carter, Anthony Carter, Randy Moss and Jake Reed. At the University of Pittsburgh, Fitzgerald shared a training facility with Steelers receivers Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress. "I think everything I did in terms of my preparation as a youth to get here has paid off for me," Fitzgerald said. "I didn't go out and I didn't drink or smoke. I didn't do a lot of the things other ..."

Cardinals' Fitzgerald not ready to return to earth

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January 29

Philadelphia Daily News

"Uneasy rest the flowing braids that wear the crown as Super Bowl week's dominant player.Or so an eloquent sage once said. Shakespeare? Emmitt Smith? Details are fuzzy.Talking to Larry Fitzgerald, though, you get the sense he isn't sure that he's "all that," the way the media, his teammates, the opposing Pittsburgh Steelers and the public seem to think."It's a little different, a little weird," Fitzgerald, 25, said yesterday. "I'm trying to get there. I want to be a dominant player in this game. But as I watch myself on tape, there's still things I really need to improve on, to be the consistently dominant player that you see - the LaDainian Tomlinsons, the Peyton Mannings . . . they've ..."

A coverage matchup that could be Taylor-made for stardom

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January 29

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

columnist Ron Cook

"What a fabulous moment in time: the best cover cornerback in NFL history setting up to interview the young corner who has to be the best cover guy on the field Sunday if the Steelers are going to win Super Bowl XLIII. Ike Taylor doesn't appear to be the least bit intimidated by the idea of trying to stop Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. But Taylor clearly was in awe when Deion Sanders stopped by to chat. " 'Prime Time,' " Taylor said, quietly. "That's who I've always wanted to be like." His answers to Sanders' questions for the NFL Network weren't nearly as interesting as their conversation afterward. Taylor asked if he could ship Sanders his game tapes to be critiqued. ..."

THE X's

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January 29

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"In a playful moment during Super Bowl media day at Raymond James Stadium, Cardinals rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, came up behind teammate Ralph Brown, put his hands on Brown's shoulders and leapfrogged over the 5-foot-10 cornerback. He landed like a gymnast executing a perfect 10. Rodgers-Cromartie, the Cardinals' No. 1 draft pick, will attempt another difficult task in Super Bowl XLIII: Keep Santonio Holmes from making big plays. That might be harder than leapfrogging a teammate. "A born playmaker," Rodgers-Cromartie said of Holmes, who has been just that in the postseason. Holmes, pictured above left, has helped ignite his team in each of the playoff victories against ..."

Fitzgerald is among legends

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January 28

Washington Times

"It would have been no surprise if Pittsburgh Steelers defensive backs coach Ray Horton reeled off names like Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice to compare to Larry Fitzgerald. In the last 20 years, that distinguished trio represents the gold standard among NFL receivers. Instead, Horton went old school - Hall of Fame old school. "Paul Warfield, Otis Taylor, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth - can I keep going on with these legendary receivers?" he said during Tuesday's Super Bowl media day at Raymond James Stadium. Fitzgerald, just 25 years old, in his fifth year and preparing for his fourth postseason game, already belongs in that company? "No question, he does," Horton said. That kind of ..."

Fitz offers Boldin assistance

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January 28

Arizona Republic

"Receiver Larry Fitzgerald would be willing to restructure his contract if it means the team can keep receiver Anquan Boldin, but cap space isn't the problem in extending Boldin's contract. Fitzgerald's willingness to alter the four-year, $40 million contract he signed last spring was reported on the NFL Network on Tuesday. The Cardinals, however, are about $41 million under the 2009 salary cap, so cap space isn't an issue with Boldin. That $41 million figure is misleading, Cardinals officials said, because it doesn't include escalator clauses, option bonuses and tenders to free agents, most of which begin to count against the cap in March. The main obstacle in a new deal with Boldin is ..."

Fitzgerald has ties to Steelers

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January 28

Philadelphia Inquirer

"As a kid in Minnesota, Larry Fitzgerald was a fan of Penn State football. That love and a passing storm led him to attend the University of Pittsburgh."I was a Big Ten guy," the star wide receiver said, "but the [Minnesota Golden] Gophers were terrible when I was growing up. I played linebacker, too, and I always liked LaVar Arrington and Brandon Short and I always wanted to be a Penn State linebacker."Fitzgerald was driving with his high school coach to Happy Valley for a visit when the weather turned bad."It was raining really hard and the visibility wasn't good enough, so we spent the night in Pittsburgh," Fitzgerald said. "My high school coach told me that Tony Dorsett and Dan Marino ..."

Fitzgerald willing to restructure to keep Boldin

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January 27

NFL.com

"Questions surround Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin and his future in Arizona. But one of the keys to it could turn out to be Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Just as Fitzgerald accepted a four-year, $40 million deal from Arizona last year when he could have made considerably more on the open market so he could leave the Cardinals cap space, Fitzgerald would like to help the Cardinals again. Fitzgerald is willing to restructure his contract so that the Cardinals can redo Boldin’s and keep him in Arizona long-term. Boldin wants his deal redone and said during the season that he never would re-sign with Arizona again, but many around the league believe that as long as the ..."

Cards' Fitzgerald can be included among great athletes he grew up around

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January 27

Kansas City Star

"Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been surrounded by superstar athletes all his life. Unfortunately, not many were with the Arizona Cardinals during the first few years of his NFL career. But Fitzgerald, taking advantage of the access granted by a dad with a press pass in Minneapolis, learned about work ethic as a teenager while shagging footballs as a Minnesota Vikings ball boy for Randy Moss and Cris Carter. Fitzgerald learned leadership and humility while hanging out with Kevin Garnett of the Timberwolves. He watched in awe and learned about professionalism from Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek of the Twins. He even got some words of wisdom from hockey star Mike Modano before the North ..."

Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald is one of a kind, on the field and off

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January 27

Seattle Times

"The most prolific receiver in the NFL this season sat at the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle on a November night before his team played the Seahawks. Larry Fitzgerald was flanked by Cardinals teammates. What Fitzgerald was wearing around his neck caused Paul Lawrence to shake his head and smile. Was that an, umm, ascot? Why yes. Yes it was an ascot, that unconventional piece of neckwear favored by Don Knotts on "Three's Company" and Fred in the cartoon "Scooby Doo." Typical Fitzgerald, thought Lawrence, who lives in Snohomish and is part of Maximum Sports, the agency that represents Fitzgerald. The Cardinals receiver is one of a kind, both as a wideout and with his wardrobe. "Larry ..."

Larry Fitzgerald's dad a veteran journalist proud to see son in Super Bowl

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January 27

New York Daily News

columnist Tim Smith

"Every father who has a son and is a football fan has the same fantasy. It is nurtured from the time the son steps onto the field in Pee Wee football. The dad wants to see his son play in the Super Bowl someday. Sports journalists have the same dream, but it is nurtured in secret - part of that "No Rooting in the Press Box" oath. Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a syndicated radio sports journalist and writer for the Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder newspaper, is getting to see his fantasy come true. His son Larry Jr. is the outstanding receiver for the Arizona Cardinals who will start against Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday. "It's just still hard to believe it's happening right in front of my ..."

Fitzgerald’s turn arrives on big stage

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January 27

Houston Chronicle

columnist Richard Justice

"He grew up around great athletes. Kevin Garnett and Kirby Puckett. Randy Moss and Cris Carter. He watched them prepare, studied how they interacted with teammates, noticed how they performed under pressure. He got to know them well enough that they talked to him and kidded him and treated him like he was one of them. Maybe they’re why Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. seems so at ease with all of this. Throw another superlative at him. See if he blinks. He has turned these NFL playoffs into his stage. He has made tough plays seem routine and impossible plays seem casual. Triple coverage? He has done that so often Arizona quarterbacks will throw the ball in practice just ..."

Cards giving everyone Fitz

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January 27

Chicago Sun-Times

"If you're suffering from a classic case of receiver envy, don't fret. You are not alone. The Arizona Cardinals tend to bring that out in everyone. How can a fan from Chicago or New York or Washington or San Francisco or Philadelphia or Tampa or even -- gulp -- Detroit not look at Larry Fitzgerald and start developing what Shakespeare called ''the green-eyed monster.'' You'd eat your spleen to get a guy like Fitzgerald. If you wonder why the Bears don't have a wideout like him on their roster, well, that's asking the wrong question. That's like asking why they don't have Peyton Manning. Fitzgerald is the type of talent that comes around once every decade. In fact, the last wide receiver you ..."

For Fitzgerald, a different sort of blitz

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January 27

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The objective was to cover Larry Fitzgerald better than the Eagles did in that now-infamous NFC championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium.To do so, it meant showing up for the first half of Fitzgerald's first news conference at Super Bowl XLIII, where the Arizona Cardinals - yes, the Arizona Cardinals - will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.At 4 p.m. yesterday, Fitzgerald sat at a makeshift metal podium inside a giant tent just outside the Grand Hyatt hotel that could have been housing the Eagles this week if only they had done a better job of covering the dreadlocked receiver with the sportswriter father.It would be incorrect to say that ..."

Fitz giving Cards more with less

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January 27

Arizona Republic

"Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald is producing more with less this season. He played at 228 pounds last year but recently weighed in at 213 pounds. Fitzgerald made losing weight a goal in the off-season, because he thought it would help his quickness and speed. The lighter weight is one reason he's improved at running after the catch this season, he said. "I'm definitely able to sustain my speed a lot longer," Fitzgerald said. "My endurance is better. I can run down the field repeatedly and I don't get winded. I think a lot of that is a tribute to John Lott (strength and conditioning coach)." A star's travels Fitzgerald enjoys traveling to different countries in the off-season and ..."

Larry Fitzgerald Jr.: A long way from home

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January 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"From his Minneapolis upbringing with mom Carol and dad Larry Sr. to his near-Heisman run at Pitt to the Super Bowl, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. has made memories. The young man jumping through television sets across America the past three weeks leapt into this world on Aug. 31, 1983, at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul. The ensuing 25 years, four months and 25 days in the life of Larry Fitzgerald Jr. formed a path to fame and fortune as an NFL wide receiver. A week from today, the journey reaches the ultimate stage when Fitzgerald's Arizona Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla. The roots of that improbable journey will stretch from Raymond James Stadium all ..."

Super matchup: Fitzgerald vs. Steelers CBs

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January 25

Arizona Republic

"WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Fitzgerald has been dominant in the playoffs, setting an NFL record for receiving yards in a postseason (419). He has scored five touchdowns and caught five passes of 30 yards or more. He's making catches against single, double or however-many-guys-you-put-on-him coverage. Kurt Warner will throw to him even when he's not open. The Cardinals will go to great lengths to find favorable matchups, lining up Fitzgerald across the formation and putting him in motion. That can make it tougher for corners to be physical with him off the line of scrimmage. Fitzgerald has improved his route running, and he's picking up more yards than ever after the catch. Deshea Townsend and Ike ..."

Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree compares favorably to Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald

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January 25

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald is having the postseason of a career. He has more receiving yards (419) than even Jerry Rice had in a single postseason. He has been to three Pro Bowls in five seasons. Draft analysts are comparing Michael Crabtree to Fitzgerald when Fitzgerald was coming out of Pittsburgh, the highest compliment Crabtree could receive. The Texas Tech receiver left after his sophomore season, just like Fitzgerald. He caught 231 passes for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns in 26 games, bettering the 161 catches, 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns Fitzgerald had in his 26 games. Crabtree twice won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver; Fitzgerald won it once. ..."

Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald brings to mind all-time NFL postseason greats

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January 25

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"With Kurt Warner standing close by, Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald was asked a question about his quarterback. Warner smiled, grabbed Fitzgerald in a bear hug and said, "He loves me. I'm his best friend." Warner might be Fitzgerald's best friend, but there is no question Fitzgerald is Warner's best friend. Warner has had some great teammates - Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Tiki Barber, Anquan Boldin - but none ever played better than Fitzgerald is playing. Fitzgerald has established an NFL record for receiving yards in a single postseason. With 419 yards, he has 10 more yards than Jerry Rice had for the San Francisco 49ers in 1988. "He's come through, and he's made ..."

Fitzgerald's Pass Route Runs Past Pittsburgh to Arizona

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January 25

New York Times

"Last Wednesday, 11 days before Pittsburgh's meeting with Arizona in the Super Bowl, the Steelers fan who trained the Cardinals' most potent threat spent lunch re-enacting Larry Fitzgerald's greatest hits. Mere retelling of Fitzgerald's college exploits would not suffice for Walt Harris. So he traced patterns on the table. He shifted his body in the seat. He cupped his hands to make imaginary grabs. In 2000, Harris and his staff saw what others failed to see in Fitzgerald, then an unheralded recruit in academic trouble. During his tenure as coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Harris recruited, trained and ultimately unleashed Fitzgerald on the N.F.L., and, eventually, on the Steelers in ..."

Facing a tall order with Fitzgerald

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January 23

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Nose tackles don't notice much in the middle of the line. The snap of the ball, the center's face mask, the way the center may attempt to block, perhaps. For sure, nose tackles know what the quarterback is doing and where the running back is going. Nose tackles don't often get involved in what is going on outside the circle in which they operate. They don't see much other than the grabbing, holding, clawing and in-fighting that occurs along the line of scrimmage. But even the Steelers' Casey Hampton said he can't help but be aware of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. "How can you not notice him?" Hampton said. "You can't help but notice him." Such is the impact Fitzgerald ..."

Fab Fitzgerald making a strong case for '09

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January 21

CBSSports.com

columnist Dave Richard

"Twenty-three catches, 419 yards and five touchdowns as part of a ridiculous three-game postseason streak (with three straight 100-yard games) has pushed Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald into the NFL limelight. While casual NFL fans are just now getting to know the prolific wide receiver in the desert, Fantasy owners who have been familiar with Fitzgerald for a long time aren't caught off guard by his gaudy stats. We've seen them before. Fitzgerald's 6-foot-3 frame, sneaky speed, incredible explosiveness and vertical jump combined with excellent hands and a good head on his shoulders has made him a machine on the field. Regardless of the opponent, Fitzgerald is one of those rare ..."

It's no stretch to say Fitzgerald is best

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January 19

Orange County Register

columnist Marcia C. Smith

"After watching the Philadelphia secondary struggle to keep Larry Fitzgerald from putting his hands on his team's first NFC championship, it's safe to conclude that the Arizona All-Pro receiver doesn't have a bone in his body. He must be made of something more like 206 Slinkys. He's tough but flexible and bendy and bouncy. He's dependable and consistent and productive while being acrobatic and exciting - not to mention a fun and wonderful toy for quarterback Kurt Warner. Safeties and cornerbacks probably have nightmares featuring Fitzgerald. Covering him is like trying to rope soap - or corralling 206 Slinkys stepping down 206 spiral staircases. Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 152 yards ..."

Plenty to write, not cheer, about

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January 19

Boston Globe

"The man sat quietly in the second row of the press box at University of Phoenix Stadium. He was in seat 113, positioned between the Denver Post and an NFL frequency dynamics official. His press badge indicated he was representing the Minnesota Spokesman Reporter. The name on the badge: Larry Fitzgerald. The veteran scribe expressed no emotion when Larry Fitzgerald Jr. caught a 9-yard touchdown pass to put the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth minute of play of yesterday's NFC Championship game. He was calm again in the second quarter when his son caught a 62-yard touchdown pass on a flea flicker. When Fitzgerald caught his third touchdown pass of the first ..."

A tough cover

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January 19

Washington Times

"Whatever happens for the Arizona Cardinals and receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the Super Bowl, a play called "Philly Special" belongs in the team's history book. Before Philadelphia mounted a second-half rally and before the Cardinals scored the winning touchdown late in their 32-25 NFC championship game victory Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium, Fitzgerald dominated the first half in record fashion. He caught nine passes for 152 yards and an NFC title game record-tying three touchdowns. His 419 receiving yards this postseason are already a playoff record. All three touchdowns came in the first half, when Arizona sprinted to a 24-6 lead. He started with a 9-yard catch on the opening ..."

Fitzgerald rewriting postseason record book

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January 19

East Valley Tribune

"Ever since the calendar turned to January, Larry Fitzgerald has been nudging his way into the record books. If only he cared. Historical accomplishments - on Sunday he became the third receiver in NFL history to catch three touchdowns in an NFC championship game -- are of little interest. Heck, his quarterback was impressed he made himself available for a postgame Q and A. "You got him to stay around for interviews?" Kurt Warner said following Sunday's 32-25 victory over the Eagles. "I like that." A moment later, Warner hugged Fitzgerald in what was perhaps a full realization that the Pro Bowl receiver's nine catches for 152 yards were the biggest reason the Cardinals are going to the ..."

Eagles have given Cardinals Fitz on 'D'

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January 16

New York Daily News

"Three of Larry Fitzgerald's least productive games came against the Eagles, Giants and Vikings this season. The common thread is they occurred against either a Jim Johnson defense or one coached by one of his protÃ©gÃ©s, Steve Spagnuolo with the Giants and Leslie Frazier with the Vikings. "All of those defenses have similar traits in how they try to play coverage," said Cards offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who calls Johnson, "a pain." "I don't think it's any coincidence that's the way it's gone," Haley said. "It's something we have to focus on trying to get better at." Fitzgerald thinks he'll be better prepared simply because he's seeing the Eagles a second time. "We hadn't played ..."

Edge providing some laughs

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January 16

Arizona Republic

"Running back Edgerrin James is slashing again for the Cardinals, and not just when he's carrying the football. James provided some light moments after the team's workout in Tempe on Thursday, mostly about his benching and return to the lineup. "It's kind of boring, that's the only thing," he said of his bench time. "You get bored standing around, and you have to learn sideline etiquette. "You learn when to get up, when to move, where to stand. It's a new world." For instance, he said when Larry Fitzgerald comes looking for the heater, he has to move. For most, he said "I've got a little seniority." Somebody asked how the Eagles defense is different from the two defenses the Cardinals have ..."

ABCs of the Cardinals' turnaround

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January 16

East Valley Tribune

columnist Scott Bordow

"It all began with Dennis Green. When the calendar turned to 2004, the Cardinals were still regarded as one of the worst-run organizations in professional sports. They were coming off a 4-12 season. They had fired coach Dave McGinnis. Their signing of free agent running back Emmitt Smith was ridiculed throughout the NFL. Cardinals not giving up on re-signing Boldin Cards aim to Prove It But in April of that year, Green began the metamorphosis that transformed the Cardinals. His first three draft picks were wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Karlos Dansby and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett. In the fifth round, he selected defensive end Antonio Smith. The influx of talent wouldn't ..."