Leinart, Boldin welcome Fitzgerald back to lineup
Associated Press
Nov. 8, 2006 05:47 PM
TEMPE - Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald will be back this weekend, and he will get a warm welcome from Matt Leinart, Anquan Boldin and the rest of the Arizona Cardinals offense.
"He just always makes a couple of incredible catches every single day on the practice field and has been able to do the same thing in the games," coach Dennis Green said. "That's that one player that I think Matt needs, that other player to go to, and I think our offense needs that, too."
Fitzgerald, sidelined since injuring his right hamstring early in the Kansas City game on Oct. 8, went through a pain-free workout with the team on Wednesday and pronounced himself ready to go against Dallas at home on Sunday. advertisement
"I feel good," he said. "I feel a lot better than I did on Monday. I'm ready to go full speed come Sunday."
Fitzgerald said he was sore after his first practice back with the team on Monday, following the Cardinals' weekend off.
"It was more like a tendinitis feel, kind of a stretching," he said, "but I got an MRI on Monday so I knew there wasn't any structural damage anymore, so I could push it today, and I felt good when I did it."
Leinart has barely played with Fitzgerald. The rookie quarterback took over for Kurt Warner to start the Kansas City game, and connected with Fitzgerald on a five-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. A short time later, Fitzgerald left with the injury, and watched from the sidelines as his team lost to Chicago, Oakland and Green Bay. The Cardinals (1-7) carry a seven-game losing streak into Sunday's contest.
"It helps us so much having him back," Leinart said. "His presence alone can change what a defense is going to do. He's just a game-breaker. He can go up and get the ball. He's made a ton of big plays in his career so far, and I haven't really had a chance to play with him."
In Fitzgerald's absence, the defenses have zeroed in on Boldin. Boldin reeled off various defensive schemes that opponents have used in Fitzgerald's absence.
"You name it, I've seen it," Boldin said. "Hopefully they won't be doing that as much."
With Fitzgerald back, defenses will have to decide which of the two star receivers deserves more attention.
"It's just hard if people are loading up on you," Green said. "When we get them both on the field, many times they're on the same side and one can clear for the other one - 1/2 or they're on opposite sides, and we go with three receivers, too."
Fitzgerald's might even ease some of the pressure on Arizona's sputtering ground game to spread the field for Edgerrin James.
"I hope I'll be able to help everybody," Fitzgerald said, "open things up for Edge a little bit, and also help Q' out. That was painful to watch and not being able to go out and help your team. I'm just glad I'm here now."
Associated Press
Nov. 8, 2006 05:47 PM
TEMPE - Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald will be back this weekend, and he will get a warm welcome from Matt Leinart, Anquan Boldin and the rest of the Arizona Cardinals offense.
"He just always makes a couple of incredible catches every single day on the practice field and has been able to do the same thing in the games," coach Dennis Green said. "That's that one player that I think Matt needs, that other player to go to, and I think our offense needs that, too."
Fitzgerald, sidelined since injuring his right hamstring early in the Kansas City game on Oct. 8, went through a pain-free workout with the team on Wednesday and pronounced himself ready to go against Dallas at home on Sunday. advertisement
"I feel good," he said. "I feel a lot better than I did on Monday. I'm ready to go full speed come Sunday."
Fitzgerald said he was sore after his first practice back with the team on Monday, following the Cardinals' weekend off.
"It was more like a tendinitis feel, kind of a stretching," he said, "but I got an MRI on Monday so I knew there wasn't any structural damage anymore, so I could push it today, and I felt good when I did it."
Leinart has barely played with Fitzgerald. The rookie quarterback took over for Kurt Warner to start the Kansas City game, and connected with Fitzgerald on a five-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. A short time later, Fitzgerald left with the injury, and watched from the sidelines as his team lost to Chicago, Oakland and Green Bay. The Cardinals (1-7) carry a seven-game losing streak into Sunday's contest.
"It helps us so much having him back," Leinart said. "His presence alone can change what a defense is going to do. He's just a game-breaker. He can go up and get the ball. He's made a ton of big plays in his career so far, and I haven't really had a chance to play with him."
In Fitzgerald's absence, the defenses have zeroed in on Boldin. Boldin reeled off various defensive schemes that opponents have used in Fitzgerald's absence.
"You name it, I've seen it," Boldin said. "Hopefully they won't be doing that as much."
With Fitzgerald back, defenses will have to decide which of the two star receivers deserves more attention.
"It's just hard if people are loading up on you," Green said. "When we get them both on the field, many times they're on the same side and one can clear for the other one - 1/2 or they're on opposite sides, and we go with three receivers, too."
Fitzgerald's might even ease some of the pressure on Arizona's sputtering ground game to spread the field for Edgerrin James.
"I hope I'll be able to help everybody," Fitzgerald said, "open things up for Edge a little bit, and also help Q' out. That was painful to watch and not being able to go out and help your team. I'm just glad I'm here now."
