What do you remember about the Fitz pick in 04'?

[GatorAZ]

(warning: no Fitz trade talk allowed)

What was your thought-process up to the draft that year?

Who did you want us to take at #3?

What was your reaction after the pick?

Were you pissed or thrilled about taking a WR #3 after Q's historic rookie season?

Add any other thoughts regarding that time period... Thx!

 

[JeffGollin]

Denny wanted Fitz and, being new, received the benefit of the doubt from most of us.

I don't recall which talented rookies were available at #3 or #4, but my perception of Fitz was that he was a polished receiver with outstanding hands and very good (but not elite) speed. Certainly not in the same category as Megatron, Julian Jones or AJ Green.

I was wrong - Larry's incredible work ethic made him the elite receiver that I didn't think he'd turn out to be. And I certainly didn't think he'd become so good so quickly.

 

[Cardiac]

I honestly can't say for sure what my feelings were. With all that has transpired since the pick I'm glad we took him for sooooo many reasons but part of me wishes we had taken Rivers for a couple of reasons.

1) That would have screwed both the Chargers and Giants plans and most likely their teams long term history.

2) Giants can't draft Rivers to then trade with the Chargers so they don't win the SB with Eli twice?

3) Does Eli hold out and not sign with the Chargers? Does Brees stay with them and ergo never wins a SB with the Saints?

4) Do we still have Q and never see the negative side of him?

5) Do the Cards ever get to the SB with Rivers instead of Warner?

6) Who do the Cards take instead of Milk Toast Leinart?

Since Fitz was such a HUGE factor in getting the Cards to the SB I'm reluctant to say don't draft him. Additionally he is so respected around the league and is a huge positive for the Cards in all facets I would hate not to have that on the team.

Bottom line is it's tough to say "Man, I hate when we drafted that HOF player".

 

[RedViper]

Since our only player on offense that was worth a darn at that point was Boldin, I thought it would be outstanding to put those two on the field at once. I also thought it might be trouble to have that much money tied up at wide receiver. Denny was going to take him anyway, and I was willing to give DG a chance. I thought he might turn us around. Nothing ever goes as planned. Years from now, I'll be proudest to say I got to watch Pat Tillman play. Second proudest will be that I got to watch Fitzgerald's entire career. I was there the first day he showed up in Flagstaff.

 

[splitsecond]

I was living in Pittsburgh with no cable so I had watched A LOT of Pitt games that season. I was stoked because I remember thinking the first time I saw him play he could very well be legendary in the NFL. Never lew he would be the person and professional he is though. I remember calling t brother and saying look out because we can build our entire offense around this guy, he's Jerry Rice good.

 

[Gee!]

(warning: no Fitz trade talk allowed)

What was your thought-process up to the draft that year?

Who did you want us to take at #4?

What was your reaction after the pick?

Were you pissed or thrilled about taking a WR #4 after Q's historic rookie season?

Add any other thoughts regarding that time period... Thx!

Well my memory of drafting Fitz was we drafted him at #3 not #4.. And also Denny Green made it very clear he was going to draft Fitz even if we had the #1 pick.. And that's it.. Wasn't a shock or debate about it..

 

[GatorAZ]

Well my memory of drafting Fitz was we drafted him at #3 not #4.. And also Denny Green made it very clear he was going to draft Fitz even if we had the #1 pick.. And that's it.. Wasn't a shock or debate about it..

Ah right, fixed.

 

[TJ]

Liked Fitz as a player at the time, but we had taken a WR in the first and second rounds the season prior so I wasn't exactly thrilled about picking another WR with QBs like Rivers (who I wanted) and Roethlisberger still available.

That said, I'm more than ecstatic that he's a Cardinal. Now it's time to find the QBoF to pair him with 10 years later.

 

[vince56]

I wanted us to draft Ben Roethlisberger. Larry Fitzgerald is my favorite Cardinal ever, but I still think we should have drafted Big Ben. He has won 2 Super Bowls, Larry is a WR, there is a world of difference in value.

 

[Garthshort]

Not sure about this but I seem to remember a lot of posters wanting Winslow (Kellen?) with our first round pick. Thank you Denny Green for Larry.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

I remember that I wasn't all that thrilled with taking a WR at that point in the draft. Can't remember who else I wanted at the time. Went with Denny's choice because I had really high hopes for what Denny could bring to the team.

 

[Totally_Red]

Like most, I knew Denny was going to take Fitz. In hind sight, it is the best thing he did during his Cardinal tenure. It's probably THE best Cardinal draft choice in recent Cardinal history until the Patrick Peterson selection.

 

[Hollywood]

Pulled these up from the depths. Some interesting and some funny stuff in them.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/how-do-you-grade-the-first-day-29132.html

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/official-draft-thread-29079.html

This one might be my favorite...
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/aaaaargh-noooooooooooooo-29127.html


And finally the one with a pole...wish it was public.
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/do-you-like-larry-fitzgerald-29081.html

 

[BurqueCardFan]

I wanted us to draft Ben Roethlisberger. Larry Fitzgerald is my favorite Cardinal ever, but I still think we should have drafted Big Ben. He has won 2 Super Bowls, Larry is a WR, there is a world of difference in value.

I don't think Big Ben has ever been as good as he's made out to be. He is good and hard to bring down but I think his success has been more a product of the strong defense and team around him. That first Superbowl, they won in spite of Ben, not because of him. And because of the 12th man (the ref's).
All that being said, other than Warner, Big Ben is better than any other QB we have rolled out in the last few years (but that is not saying much).

 

[cardncubfan]

Hate the pick!

 

[john h]

(warning: no Fitz trade talk allowed)

What was your thought-process up to the draft that year?

Who did you want us to take at #3?

What was your reaction after the pick?

Were you pissed or thrilled about taking a WR #3 after Q's historic rookie season?

Add any other thoughts regarding that time period... Thx!

I did not like it. Was I ever so wrong. As usual I wanted a QB. Seems like my whole life I wanted a QB.

 

[john h]

Denny wanted Fitz and, being new, received the benefit of the doubt from most of us.

I don't recall which talented rookies were available at #3 or #4, but my perception of Fitz was that he was a polished receiver with outstanding hands and very good (but not elite) speed. Certainly not in the same category as Megatron, Julian Jones or AJ Green.

I was wrong - Larry's incredible work ethic made him the elite receiver that I didn't think he'd turn out to be. And I certainly didn't think he'd become so good so quickly.

Was Big Ben available to us that year? Seems we passed over him to draft someone else one year.

 

[john h]

I wanted us to draft Ben Roethlisberger. Larry Fitzgerald is my favorite Cardinal ever, but I still think we should have drafted Big Ben. He has won 2 Super Bowls, Larry is a WR, there is a world of difference in value.

I sure wanted Big Ben also if he was available to us. I knew little about Fitz at the time and thought Greene was just drafting his boy. He has turned out to be one of my favorite players of all time.

 

[Cardiac]

Was Big Ben available to us that year? Seems we passed over him to draft someone else one year.

We took Fitz over Rivers and Big Ben. That's my one regret with us taking Fitz.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I wanted him way before the 2003 season was over.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=234976&postcount=1

Was stoked when we drafted him!

 

[Duckjake]

Like most, I knew Denny was going to take Fitz. In hind sight, it is the best thing he did during his Cardinal tenure. It's probably THE best Cardinal draft choice in recent Cardinal history until the Patrick Peterson selection.

When you still have 3 of the players you drafted 9 years ago on your roster it has to be a terrific draft. (Even if you loaned one to another team for a couple of years ). Plus Antonio Smith was in the pro bowl last year for the Texans. Just a great job of talent evaluation.

 

[Russ Smith]

I wanted Ben and felt if we took a Wr it should have been Roy Williams because of speed. Boy was I wrong about that.

I know Ben has won SB's but I wouldn't want him on my team, not a good human being IMO.

 

[Jasper]

Fitz was a safe pick. Rivers is what we needed. Thank the raiders fr picking Gallery or we would have picked him.

 

[BurqueCardFan]

Fitz was a safe pick. Rivers is what we needed. Thank the raiders fr picking Gallery or we would have picked him.

Fitz wasn't just the safe pick, Fitz was probably the BPA at that point, so that is what we should have done. Never pick for need over best player available (see: Levi Brown)

 

[D-Dogg]

I think i was ok with it/liked, knew it was coming but liked Sean Taylor.