Arizona All-Pro WR grows into leadership role
November 13, 2009 12:38 PM
The Associated Press
TEMPE, Ariz. — Larry Fitzgerald used to like to do his job and go home — period. Interviews? Not if he could avoid them. A leadership role on the team? He'd rather not.
``In the past I was just focused on 'What does Fitz have to do to get better? What does Fitz have to do on this route?''' he said. ``I had tunnel vision.''
That changed with Fitzgerald's phenomenal, record-breaking performance in last season's playoffs.
He shattered Jerry Rice's postseason record for yards receiving (546 to Rice's 409), broke Rice's record for touchdown catches (seven) and bettered the mark for postseason receptions (30) that had been shared by Wesley Walker and Steve Smith.
As the Cardinals advanced on their improbable march to the Super Bowl, the spotlight on Fitzgerald grew brighter. Rather than shy away from the attention, he chose to embrace it.
``I think having all the added attention because of his great play in the playoffs has forced him to have to deal with that,'' coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
Fitzgerald never was rude to reporters. He was just hard to find. Last season, the NFL fined him — he says it was $20,000 — for leaving the locker room after games before reporters had a chance to talk to him.
That may sound like pocket change for a man who signed a four-year, $40 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed, after the 2007 season, but Fitzgerald is a thrifty guy.
``That's my son's college tuition,'' he said.
As his role as a public face of the franchise grew, so did his leadership within the team.
``Late last year and this offseason this year,'' Fitzgerald said, ``I kind of started to be more of a team guy in terms of really getting involved with the other stuff.''
He befriended first-round draft pick Beanie Wells, bringing him to his receivers camp in Minnesota, then having him stay at his house while the rookie running back's contract with the Cardinals was worked out.
``I don't know a better guy than Larry,'' Wells said when he arrived at training camp. ``... He has one focus and you can clearly see it and it's getting to another Super Bowl and winning it.''
Before this season began, Fitzgerald's teammates elected him a captain.
``Listen, we all know Larry is a great guy,'' Whisenhunt said. ``He's one of the best guys I've ever been around and he really cares about his teammates. But it's not always easy to be a leader or take that role. You naturally have to do that when you play as well as he played and I think that he's embraced that. Certainly, with great play does come responsibility and it's great to see him accept that.''
Fitzgerald leads mostly by example, but says he will make his opinion known to teammates who are not living up to their responsibilities.
``I'm six years in. More than likely my career is more than halfway over, if I'm lucky enough to make it. But time is ticking and you don't get many opportunities like we had last year,'' Fitzgerald said. ``That opportunity may never present itself again, but I know if we do things the right way every day, it creates more opportunities for ourselves.
``If that takes me to have to say something to somebody, then I've got to do it. That's just the job at hand.''
Quarterback Kurt Warner echoes Fitzgerald's self-assessment.
``I think with Larry there was a period in his career where he kind of shied away from that leadership role,'' Warner said. ``He just wanted to do his job and worry about him and not so much the big picture. That's where I have seen him grow the last couple of years.''
Fitzgerald, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was just 20 when he was drafted No. 3 overall of the University of Pittsburgh.
``When you're drafted No. 3, the team feels as though you are a cinder block of what they're trying to do for the future,'' he said. ``So when I came in the door, there were huge expectations for me to be a good football player.''
He started out good and has been getting better ever since. At 6-foot-3 with the natural gift of being able to jump to catch a pass with perfect timing, Fitzgerald topped 6,000 yards in career receiving in the season-opener this year against San Francisco. He reached the mark at 26 years, 13 days. Only Randy Moss achieved that milestone at a younger age.
Through eight games, Fitzgerald has 56 catches for 632 yards and seven touchdowns, putting him on pace for his third 100-catch season. Only Marvin Harrison had three 100-catch campaigns in his first six seasons in the league.
But with the Cardinals up and down en route to a 5-3 record, Fitzgerald says he should have done better.
``I wouldn't say that I'm playing at a super-high clip,'' he said. ``I'm doing decent enough, but I expect a lot more out of myself and I know coach expects more out of me, too.''
November 13, 2009 12:38 PM
The Associated Press
TEMPE, Ariz. — Larry Fitzgerald used to like to do his job and go home — period. Interviews? Not if he could avoid them. A leadership role on the team? He'd rather not.
``In the past I was just focused on 'What does Fitz have to do to get better? What does Fitz have to do on this route?''' he said. ``I had tunnel vision.''
That changed with Fitzgerald's phenomenal, record-breaking performance in last season's playoffs.
He shattered Jerry Rice's postseason record for yards receiving (546 to Rice's 409), broke Rice's record for touchdown catches (seven) and bettered the mark for postseason receptions (30) that had been shared by Wesley Walker and Steve Smith.
As the Cardinals advanced on their improbable march to the Super Bowl, the spotlight on Fitzgerald grew brighter. Rather than shy away from the attention, he chose to embrace it.
``I think having all the added attention because of his great play in the playoffs has forced him to have to deal with that,'' coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
Fitzgerald never was rude to reporters. He was just hard to find. Last season, the NFL fined him — he says it was $20,000 — for leaving the locker room after games before reporters had a chance to talk to him.
That may sound like pocket change for a man who signed a four-year, $40 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed, after the 2007 season, but Fitzgerald is a thrifty guy.
``That's my son's college tuition,'' he said.
As his role as a public face of the franchise grew, so did his leadership within the team.
``Late last year and this offseason this year,'' Fitzgerald said, ``I kind of started to be more of a team guy in terms of really getting involved with the other stuff.''
He befriended first-round draft pick Beanie Wells, bringing him to his receivers camp in Minnesota, then having him stay at his house while the rookie running back's contract with the Cardinals was worked out.
``I don't know a better guy than Larry,'' Wells said when he arrived at training camp. ``... He has one focus and you can clearly see it and it's getting to another Super Bowl and winning it.''
Before this season began, Fitzgerald's teammates elected him a captain.
``Listen, we all know Larry is a great guy,'' Whisenhunt said. ``He's one of the best guys I've ever been around and he really cares about his teammates. But it's not always easy to be a leader or take that role. You naturally have to do that when you play as well as he played and I think that he's embraced that. Certainly, with great play does come responsibility and it's great to see him accept that.''
Fitzgerald leads mostly by example, but says he will make his opinion known to teammates who are not living up to their responsibilities.
``I'm six years in. More than likely my career is more than halfway over, if I'm lucky enough to make it. But time is ticking and you don't get many opportunities like we had last year,'' Fitzgerald said. ``That opportunity may never present itself again, but I know if we do things the right way every day, it creates more opportunities for ourselves.
``If that takes me to have to say something to somebody, then I've got to do it. That's just the job at hand.''
Quarterback Kurt Warner echoes Fitzgerald's self-assessment.
``I think with Larry there was a period in his career where he kind of shied away from that leadership role,'' Warner said. ``He just wanted to do his job and worry about him and not so much the big picture. That's where I have seen him grow the last couple of years.''
Fitzgerald, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was just 20 when he was drafted No. 3 overall of the University of Pittsburgh.
``When you're drafted No. 3, the team feels as though you are a cinder block of what they're trying to do for the future,'' he said. ``So when I came in the door, there were huge expectations for me to be a good football player.''
He started out good and has been getting better ever since. At 6-foot-3 with the natural gift of being able to jump to catch a pass with perfect timing, Fitzgerald topped 6,000 yards in career receiving in the season-opener this year against San Francisco. He reached the mark at 26 years, 13 days. Only Randy Moss achieved that milestone at a younger age.
Through eight games, Fitzgerald has 56 catches for 632 yards and seven touchdowns, putting him on pace for his third 100-catch season. Only Marvin Harrison had three 100-catch campaigns in his first six seasons in the league.
But with the Cardinals up and down en route to a 5-3 record, Fitzgerald says he should have done better.
``I wouldn't say that I'm playing at a super-high clip,'' he said. ``I'm doing decent enough, but I expect a lot more out of myself and I know coach expects more out of me, too.''
