azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 24, 2004 12:00 AM
Receiver Larry Fitzgerald is only 21 and has experienced two NFL games. But he can't imagine a team defending him better than New England did last week.
Fitzgerald caught five passes for 36 yards against the Patriots, but most of them were harmless short slants.
"It just showed me how much harder I have to work to get on that level one day," he said. "I've never played against a cornerback the caliber of Ty Law. You come out of the huddle and you see (linebackers) Willie McGinest and Tedy Bruschi. They have so many guys that are Pro Bowl-caliber players."
That's part of the learning process, running back Emmitt Smith said.
"At this level, most of the guys are very experienced individuals," he said. "They don't care anything about Larry Fitzgerald. They just care about covering him. . . .
"In college, you have the ability to intimidate people because you are bigger than they are, but at this level the intimidation factor is gone."
More time
The Cardinals plan to play backup receivers Nate Poole and Reggie Newhouse more, coach Dennis Green said, because the starters, Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson, are not healthy.
Fitzgerald missed several weeks of training camp with an ankle sprain, and Johnson missed all of camp with a stress fracture in his foot. Neither is 100 percent, Green said.
Fitzgerald has nine receptions for 106 yards this season, Johnson six for 58. The Cardinals don't have a touchdown pass this season.
Poole and Newhouse played sparingly the first two games. Poole has one catch and Newhouse has yet to catch a pass.
Karl Williams, the team's third receiver, also has only one catch.
"I think we're relying a little too much on the three guys and neither Bryant nor Larry are absolutely 100 percent," Green said. "By having Poole and Newhouse, that takes some of the pressure off. I think we'll play all five from here on out."
Role model
Defensive end Bertrand Berry has learned a lot in his seven years in the NFL, including how to take care of himself.
He now forces himself to go to bed earlier than he did a few years ago, even if it means missing reruns of one of his favorite shows.
"It's one thing to be at home not doing anything but it's another to be up watching reruns of Mary Tyler Moore, " he said.
Mary Tyler Moore?
"I actually used to watch the show," he said. "I'm not embarrassed to say that. I'm very proud of that. I'm a communications major (at Notre Dame) so she was kind of a role model early on."
Injury update
Cardinals offensive left tackle Leonard Davis (knee) was added to the injured list. He's listed as probable for Sunday's game at Atlanta.
Outside linebacker Raynoch Thompson (knee) did a little more at practice Thursday but is still doubtful.
For Atlanta, running back Warrick Dunn (knee) and defensive tackle Rod Coleman (hamstring) were upgraded to probable.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/0924cardsnb0924.html
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 24, 2004 12:00 AM
Receiver Larry Fitzgerald is only 21 and has experienced two NFL games. But he can't imagine a team defending him better than New England did last week.
Fitzgerald caught five passes for 36 yards against the Patriots, but most of them were harmless short slants.
"It just showed me how much harder I have to work to get on that level one day," he said. "I've never played against a cornerback the caliber of Ty Law. You come out of the huddle and you see (linebackers) Willie McGinest and Tedy Bruschi. They have so many guys that are Pro Bowl-caliber players."
That's part of the learning process, running back Emmitt Smith said.
"At this level, most of the guys are very experienced individuals," he said. "They don't care anything about Larry Fitzgerald. They just care about covering him. . . .
"In college, you have the ability to intimidate people because you are bigger than they are, but at this level the intimidation factor is gone."
More time
The Cardinals plan to play backup receivers Nate Poole and Reggie Newhouse more, coach Dennis Green said, because the starters, Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson, are not healthy.
Fitzgerald missed several weeks of training camp with an ankle sprain, and Johnson missed all of camp with a stress fracture in his foot. Neither is 100 percent, Green said.
Fitzgerald has nine receptions for 106 yards this season, Johnson six for 58. The Cardinals don't have a touchdown pass this season.
Poole and Newhouse played sparingly the first two games. Poole has one catch and Newhouse has yet to catch a pass.
Karl Williams, the team's third receiver, also has only one catch.
"I think we're relying a little too much on the three guys and neither Bryant nor Larry are absolutely 100 percent," Green said. "By having Poole and Newhouse, that takes some of the pressure off. I think we'll play all five from here on out."
Role model
Defensive end Bertrand Berry has learned a lot in his seven years in the NFL, including how to take care of himself.
He now forces himself to go to bed earlier than he did a few years ago, even if it means missing reruns of one of his favorite shows.
"It's one thing to be at home not doing anything but it's another to be up watching reruns of Mary Tyler Moore, " he said.
Mary Tyler Moore?
"I actually used to watch the show," he said. "I'm not embarrassed to say that. I'm very proud of that. I'm a communications major (at Notre Dame) so she was kind of a role model early on."
Injury update
Cardinals offensive left tackle Leonard Davis (knee) was added to the injured list. He's listed as probable for Sunday's game at Atlanta.
Outside linebacker Raynoch Thompson (knee) did a little more at practice Thursday but is still doubtful.
For Atlanta, running back Warrick Dunn (knee) and defensive tackle Rod Coleman (hamstring) were upgraded to probable.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/0924cardsnb0924.html
