My Favorite (Other) Player

I’m a Miami Dolphins fan and I love every Dolphins player. I even liked Jay Cutler for a bit. It’s hard to love players from other teams even if you completely respect their talents.

I thought it would be fun to start a series of reports, from all of our analysts, outlining their favorite player who doesn’t play for their favorite team.

So, I’ll kick us off…..

My favourite (other) player is:

Larry Fitzgerald – Wide Receiver – Arizona Cardinals

There’s so much to like about Larry Fitzgerald. He’s been in the league since 2004 after being drafted, with the number 3 pick, by the Cardinals. Fitzgerald has had 100 catches, or more, in 5 of his 14 seasons with a high of 109 in both 2015 and 2017. Fitzgerald has posted over 1000 yards receiving in 9 seasons. Fitzgerald has had 10, or more, touchdowns in 5 of his seasons.

Fitzgerald has career stats of: 1234 catches, 15545 yards and 100 touchdowns. Fitzgerald is currently 3rd on the all time list for receiving yards, behind only Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, and 3rd on the list of careers receptions behind Rice and Tony Gonzalez. Fitzgerald has been voted to 11 pro bowls.

Fitzgerald has unparalleled durability and longevity. Fitzgerald has only missed 6 games in all of his time in the NFL

Fitzgerald has not always been part of a competitive Cardinals team and he’s played with multiple Quarterbacks, Head Coaches and Offensive Coordinators. Fitzgerald was an integral part of the Cardinals team that made, and very nearly won, Super Bowl XLIII (43). Arizona have rarely had above average, complementary receivers to work alongside Fitzgerald which, as much as anything, shows how good he is.

Fitzgerald has stayed with the Cardinals, through thick and thin, despite his obsession with wanting to win a Super Bowl. Fitzgerald could easily have jumped ship and there were a number of occasions where he could have moved to a more regular contender. At 34, people expect Fitzgerald to retire soon but he seems to be getting better with age. Fitzgerald has successfully re-molded himself into a short area, slot type receiver whereas he started his career as more of a possession/deep threat type receiver.

On top of his elite play, and his age-defying longevity, Fitzgerald has an alpha character. He is described as a consummate professional and exceptional teammate. Fitzgerald lives for football, it’s in his blood and he loves the game. Fitzgerald supports a number of charities and has his own First Down Fund. In the 2011, 2012 and 2014 off-seasons,

Fitzgerald joined other NFL players in mission trips to Africa, India, Thailand and the Philippines to support economic development projects. He has worked with Starkey Hearing Foundation to provide hearing aids for children, and adults, in need in eight countries. Fitzgerald has also made five USO tours to visit soldiers overseas and has raised financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. military.

Fitzgerald continues to keep the Cardinals offense relevant and you can easily see him doing so for another few years yet. He is just one of those players that you have to root for. Fitzgerald plays the game without drama or histrionics and he just gets on with his job and produces, constantly, at a high level. I wish Larry was a Dolphin but, nonetheless, I’ll continue to watch him on Sundays and there’ll be a part of me that hopes the Cardinals can, against all odds, bring him the Super Bowl win he deserves.