It was the first Sunday in February of 2009, a day most widely remembered for holding one of the best Super Bowl games in recent memory. From up-and-comer Ben Roethlisberger to legend Kurt Warner to the seemingly impossible Santonio Holmes game-winning touchdown reception, it was a memorable showdown between two star-studded rosters.
But it wasn’t any of those players that turned in the best performance of any player on the field, an honor that instead goes to Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. With seven receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns, he was the best player on the field that day, but the scoreboard did not reflect it, and I’m sure the All Pro receiver found a reason to be unhappy with his play.
Larry Fitzgerald will never be good enough in his own mind, despite being the most loved player in Arizona and a perennial All Pro selection. He doesn’t want to discuss the eight-year, $120 million contract that he just signed, because the fact that the Cardinals only won five games last season is most important to him.
“Going 5 and 11 last year was hands down one of the most miserable times in my life,” Fitzgerald said of the 2010 season. “I take a lot of pride in my team. I take a lot of pride in my personal performance every week, so it hurts me, hurts me bad, when I don’t perform to the level I’m capable of.”
Apparently a Pro Bowl season wasn’t enough for Fitzgerald, who was voted to be the 14th best player in the league in an NFL Network poll of other players during the offseason. If the team isn’t showing positive results on the field, he takes it personally and believes his performance was lacking.
“There are certain things in life that no matter how much money you have, you can never get. Bill Gates can’t buy a Super Bowl ring. Paul Allen can’t buy his way into the Hall of Fame,” Fitzgerald said. “Those are things you have to earn. Those are my two biggest goals in life, and I’m going to do everything I possibly can to get there.”
As if he wasn’t already one of the most motivated players in the league, Fitzgerald sounds like a man on a mission, ready to take on whatever challenge stands between him, the Lombardi Trophy, and a spot in Canton.
With newly acquired Kevin Kolb ready to finally be a starting quarterback, the tandem should be explosive this season. Larry Fitzgerald has his eyes on the prize, and he will do whatever is necessary to get a ring this season.
