Super Reciever Larry Fitzgerald

A year ago, Larry Fitzgerald was sitting in a press box watching the Giants pull off the upset of the year. He saw Plaxico Burress, the Giants super receiver catch the winning touchdown and if I could’ve watched his reaction, I could only imagine that he might have had a huge smile on his face.

He was probably thinking to himself, “I can do that.”

As we have seen as this postseason has played itself out, its not far fetched to think that Larry Fitzgerald Jr. can do whatever he puts his mind to. Last season’s win by the Giants was proof that no matter how big and indestructible and undefeatable Goliath looks, they can always be beat. NO team is guaranteed anything on any stage. Not on the biggest, even with Mr. Clutch Tom Brady.

So when every single beat writer, columnist and anyone with an opinion wrote about how horrible a playoff team the Arizona Cardinals were, in fact, most people and when I say most I mean most national columnists floated this idea around about the Cardinals being the worst playoff team in the history of football.

Just think about that for a second. To be the worst at anything is an accomplishment in it of itself, but getting commentary like “the worst playoff team in the history of the playoffs” is the worst kind of statement someone can make. Its devaluing a playoff team. I mean, this team not only made the playoffs, but they were a division champ, and yet no one gave this team respect.

But as the post season played out, what everyone forgot how they got there. Many people forgot how much talent was contained in that locker room. Many people felt it more safe to give the credit to a guy like Kurt Warner because he had been there before. He was the safe story. The kind of guy you could market if you were an ad guy for the Super Bowl and for the NFL. Here’s the old guy, taking another team to the biggest stage of the sport after everyone had given up on him.

Yet, the best player on that field Sunday will be Larry Fitzgerald. On most occasions, you could make the case that the answer to that question is subjective and based on one’s own opinion but in this case I’m going to have to say its rather easy. Larry Fitzgerald is the best player on the field.

I said it twice to only accentuate the point. When Kurt Warner throws a deep pass this Sunday immediately, as a football fan, you will just assume its going to Larry Fitzgerald and not only that, you will assume he will make the catch regardless of who’s on him.

That’s what defines great players isn’t it? Its when you are about to make a play, everyone knows where its going including the fans in the stands and yet when the play happens, the other team can’t stop it. That’s where Larry Fitzgerald is right now.

Even if he doesn’t catch another pass in this year’s playoffs, he has already set the record for best playoff performance by a receiver in post season history. That means he’s done better than Jerry Rice.

But what’s great is that Fitz is young enough at 25 to only get better. In fact, what’s even better is that he’s different from every other receiver in the NFL. He can out jump every corner in the league. He can out run most of them. He’s stronger than most of them. He has great hands. But what really sets him apart from everyone is what he does when he scores a touchdown.

When he scores, its not even like he does the “I’ve been there before” routine that the purists love. No, what he does is even better. He acts excited. He gets that look that we wish all our football players would have. You know, the “I can’t believe I play a game for a living and I get paid a lot of money for doing it.”

He’s not a prima donna or a danger to do something stupid. He’s the guy that you can count on when your team needs him. There’s no surprise when he comes through because that’s JUST what he does. He’s got that every day man’s attitude and work ethic while maintaining that elite athlete status.

If you look at Fitz’s face you can tell its not fake. Its genuine, just like his ability. He’s the kind of athlete that we all want to celebrate but never give the time or the space in columns to embrace. But what’s great about the playoffs is that every game is watched by everyone. There are no other games going on at the same time for you to be disturbed. You are watching two teams and their star players and you can see for yourself what people always rave about.

When Fitzgerald made that amazing catch against the Falcons in round one, the most interesting call of that touchdown was brought to you courtesy of Cris Collinsworth when he showed neither surprise or awe at what he just witnessed, he simply said “that’s a play that he routinely makes.” He makes what other receivers seem to make look impossible look down right easy.

He has made almost one play each game that made you just say wow. He’s beyond amazing, he’s entered that zone that few athletes ever reach in the playoffs. He’s above his own level and every pass either lands in his lap or he makes sure he catches it. Its just not fair anymore for other receivers. Its not fair for anyone being compared to him. One thing that Fitz gives you more than anything is this: reliability. Reliability that he will make the catch. Reliability that it will take more than one player to hit him to bring him down. Reliability that it will take all eyes on the field to make sure he doesn’t go off. More than anything, reliability that he won’t shoot himself in the foot, no matter what context you want to take that sentence in.