on Tuesday and six others were selected as alternates.
But forgive head coach Ken Whisenhunt for hoping none of them end up playing in the Pro Bowl Game itself.
That's because the Pro Bowl will be played the week before the Super Bowl in Miami, and if the Cardinals return once again as NFC champions, their Pro Bowl players will be busy preparing for a much bigger game - Super Bowl XLIV.
Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught his 500th career pass Sunday, reaching that milestone in the second-fewest games (87) in history. Teammate Anquan Boldin caught his 500th pass in his 80th game.
Fitzgerald, however, caught just four passes for 34 yards and was targeted only five times.
Asked if he would have liked to see the Cardinals throw deep more often, Fitzgerald smiled and said: "We did what we had to do to go out there and try to put ourselves in position to win."
Fitzgerald, Morton's score big with charitable fundraiser
by Kathy Shayna Shocket - Sept. 9, 2009 10:23 AM Special for The Republic
Morton's The Steakhouse is finalizing the numbers this week and expects to write a check for more than $100,000 to a memorial fund named for Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald's late mother, Carol, that is dedicated to helping those affected by cancer and AIDS.
The money was netted from the Larry Fitzgerald and Friends Morton's Celebrity Waiter Night, a recent dinner party at Morton's in Scottsdale that had the Cardinals on a different kind of playing field.
Fitzgerald was running from table to table, greeting 200-plus guests at the private, $250-per-person affair.
Larry Fitzgerald and Friends Morton's Celebrity Waiter Night
Arizona Cardinals 2008 NFC West Champions' wide-receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, is helping eye doctors spread the word to parents that vision problems can interfere with a child's ability to pay attention, read and learn. http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/
PARKVILLE, MD, July 30, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Arizona Cardinals 2008 NFC West Champions' wide-receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, is helping eye doctors spread the word to parents that vision problems can interfere with a child's ability to pay attention, read and learn. "Even if you have been told your child has perfect vision or 20/20 vision, your child could still be at-risk of having a learning-related vision problem," warns Fitzgerald.
Do you have a child who takes forever to do homework? Or hates to read? Learning-related vision problems directly affect how we learn, read, or do close work.
The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) launched their annual campaign, August is National Children's Vision & Learning Month, to educate the public on the steps they can take to ensure their children aren't struggling with reading and learning because of undiagnosed vision problems.
Larry Fitzgerald and Friends: Morton’s Celebrity Waiter Night
http://raisingzona.com/ Hosted by Morton’s The Steakhouse in Scottsdale to Benefit The Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund
We know that Arizona Cardinals’ superstar Larry Fitzgerald can leap high in the air for clutch touchdowns to help get his team into the Super Bowl, but can he serve 166 steaks to hungry guests in one night? — Probably not without the help of his friends.
Morton’s The Steakhouse is pleased to announce the Larry Fitzgerald and Friends: Morton’s Celebrity Waiter Night, an exclusive fund raising event that will take place at Morton’s The Steakhouse in Scottsdale on Monday, August 24, 2009, beginning at 6 p.m. The evening, hosted by Arizona Cardinals’ announcers Ron Wolfley and Paul Calvisi, will feature top Phoenix professional athletes, including Larry’s Cardinals’ teammates serving a lavish dinner to guests as well as a live and silent auction, all to benefit the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund.
Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice (third from left) shared training and pass-catching tips with Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (left) and Denver’s Brandon Marshall (right) during a workout with NFL players Wednesday at the University of Minnesota.
Larry Fitzgerald Jr. knew he wanted to bring some of the NFL's top talent to the Twin Cities this summer to workout, share ideas and talk shop about their craft.
He took his idea a step further by inviting the greatest wide receiver in NFL history to join him. Jerry Rice didn't need much convincing, even though he didn't really know Fitzgerald, the Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl wide receiver and former Holy Angels star who is widely regarded as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL today.
"I had heard great things about Larry," said Rice, the future Hall of Famer who set a host of receiving records with the San Francisco 49ers. "We've never really had an opportunity to spend time together. But you can tell he just loves the game and he works at it."
Fitzgerald hopes to make the Twin Cities a popular destination for NFL players looking to stay in shape with intensive workouts prior to the start of training camp. Fitzgerald, Rice and a group of players that included wide receivers Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos), Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers) and Michael Clayton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) worked out at the Gophers practice facility Wednesday.
Marcus Fitzgerald attended a handful of regular-season games in which his older brother, Arizona Cardinals standout Larry Jr., played last year. Marcus also was in attendance throughout the playoffs as Larry's numerous receptions helped the Cardinals reach the Super Bowl.
While Marcus was proud, he also longed for the chance to demonstrate his own skills. That wasn't possible after the wide receiver suffered a torn hamstring while doing the 40-yard dash at his 2008 Pro Day at Marshall. The injury meant Marcus didn't have the opportunity to catch on with a team in the spring and he ended up spending his time in the Twin Cities working out and keeping his focus on getting a chance.
That opportunity will come this weekend as Fitzgerald joins a group of players at the Vikings' three-day rookie camp on a tryout basis.
"Last year I pretty much stayed here and just kept training and kept grinding," said Fitzgerald, who trained at Velocity Sports Performance in Champlin. "I knew my opportunity would come eventually. My whole mind-set was to keep training like I knew this was going to happen."
The son of longtime Twin Cities journalist Larry Fitzgerald Sr., Marcus' invitation to the Vikings camp came after he had a discussion with Brad Childress last month while attending a fund-raising event named in honor of Marcus' late mother, Carol.
Fitzgerald, 23, got the opportunity to tell the Vikings coach about himself and his time at Marshall. Fitzgerald's best season came as a sophomore when he had 41 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns; he had only five catches for 71 yards as a senior. Childress liked what he heard enough to invite Fitzgerald to try out.
It was a dream scenario for Fitzgerald, who like his brother, had grown up rooting for the Vikings and served as a ballboy for the team from 1998-2003. At the time, Fitzgerald tried to work with the Vikings running backs because that was his position, but eventually he was converted to wide receiver at Marshall.That, of course, is the same position his big brother plays. Marcus has talked to his brother about this tryout and Larry Jr., 25, is even sending some gloves. But while Marcus appreciates the help, his desire is to make a name for himself.
"My story is going to be different than Larry's," Marcus said. "Larry was the third pick overall [in 2004] and things just happened for him. He got a big contract, got to play right away. But with me having to go through the injury and come through adversity of not getting drafted -- it's a mental test, and really made me persevere and appreciate it that much more."
Larry Fitzgerald's little brother Marcus perseveres as he seeks job with Minnesota Vikings
Marcus Fitzgerald has never shied away from his superstar sibling's shadow.
Like his older brother Larry Fitzgerald Jr., the Arizona Cardinals' three-time Pro Bowl receiver, Marcus Fitzgerald starred at Academy of Holy Angels and earned a Division I football scholarship.
But, unlike his brother, Marcus Fitzgerald has not walked a red-carpet path to the NFL.
He wasn't invited to the 2008 NFL combine. He wasn't drafted. And he wasn't given his first NFL tryout until February, at the behest of big brother.
Despite the adversity, including a stint as a valet parking attendant at an Eden Prairie restaurant, Marcus hasn't conceded a dream that he and Larry have shared since they were boys in Minneapolis.
Now, Marcus may one-up Larry.
After seeking out Vikings coach Brad Childress at a fundraiser for his late mother, Carol, on April 10, Marcus Fitzgerald eventually secured an invitation to this weekend's rookie camp at Winter Park. There are no promises, because he hasn't signed a contract, but he is thrilled about the chance to play for the team he and Larry grew up rooting for and that his father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., covered for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and numerous radio stations for the past 30 years.
Decorating the cover of Madden NFL is now a two-man job.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will both appear on the cover of Madden NFL 10, according to a release from Electronic Arts. It will mark the first time two football players will be featured on the front of the game box.
"Madden NFL 10 showcases the Fight For Every Yard, and nobody fights harder than Troy and Larry, making them the perfect athletes to grace the cover," says Anthony Stevenson, the game's senior product manager, in a statement.
Fitzgerald becomes the second football player to appear on both the covers of Madden NFL and the NCAA Football series (Running back Shaun Alexander is the other).
"This is a big year for the game, and to be associated with it is truly an honor," Fitzgerald says in an interview.
Madden NFL 10 will debut a new animation techonology dubbed Pro-Tak, which will introduce steerable tackles and the ability to fight for fumbles. The game hits retail on August 14.
Readers, what do you think of the cover?
By Brett Molina Photo: Madden NFL 10 (Electronic Arts)
Larry Fitzgerald bringing Jordin Sparks, Adrian Peterson to benefit PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune
A fundraiser in the memory of the mother of NFL star Larry Fitzgerald Jr. includes an appearance by 2007 "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks.The $100-per-person benefit for the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund is scheduled for the evening of April 10 at the Metropolitan Club Ball Room in Golden Valley.Also attending on the bill put together by the Holy Angels alum is Viking standout running back Adrian Peterson.Carol Fitzgerald died in April 2003 from breast cancer. The fund supports urban education efforts, black women with breast cancer and also helps combat the spread of HIV/AIDS among blacks. These were causes Carol Fitzgerald was passionate about in her lifetime.Sparks is a huge Larry Fitzgerald fan. At one time, her website even campaigned against rumors that the wide receiver might be traded from the Arizona Cardinals.For ticket information about the benefit, call 612-823-8574 or email
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.Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, whose Arizona Cardinals reached their first Super Bowl this year, recently visited Iraq and Kuwait as part of a week-long NFL-USO tour. While in Iraq, he shared his travels tips and highlights with Kelly Carter for USA TODAY.
Q: Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?
A: Iraq and Kuwait. It's been a great experience being with the troops. … It's a lot of sand. The terrain is what I expected, but the base life is not. I thought it would be more soldiers living in tents, but we have a really solid infrastructure here.
Q: What's the best place you've ever visited?
A: Buenos Aires in South America. I enjoyed the culture. The nightlife was a lot of fun, the food was great, and the history was awesome. The architecture reminded me of France, but the nightlife and culture had an Italian feel. I would go back in a heartbeat. I didn't learn how to tango. I was born with two left feet, so dancing is not really my cup of tea.
Q: What's the most surprising or unexpected place you're ever visited?
A: Istanbul, Turkey, from the food and the culture and touring the city. I had no idea it was that big. I didn't know 13 or 14 million people were going to be there. Just the history of the people coming there — Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire — so many people have come through that landing. We went to Adana to see one of Alexander's old palaces. I saw the ancient city of Ephesus, and right outside of the city was the last known house of Mary. Ephesus is one of the farthest (outposts) that the Roman Empire had. There was a huge amphitheater, shops and hot baths.
Q: What's your favorite vacation spot?
A: I have a home down in Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), and that's my favorite vacation spot. It's so relaxing and peaceful.
Q: Can you offer an insider tip or recommendation for your favorite vacation place?
A: In Cabo San Lucas, you have to stay at the One&Only Palmilla and stay in one of their ocean villas. They're right on the water, and you can hear the waves crashing against the rocks. Make sure you have the shrimp quesadillas and the fish tacos.
Larry Fitzgerald bumps into cousin serving in Kuwait
Minneapolis native and Arizona Cardinals star receiver Larry Fitzgerald had an impromptu mini-family reunion while on a USO tour this week in the Persian Gulf war zone with Viking Jared Allen and two other NFL players.
In a dispatch by the NFL on Thursday, Day 2 of the tour, Fitzgerald met a cousin who is a defense contractor stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.
Emelda Hadley, a cousin on Larry's maternal side, said they had not seen each other in several years and she remembers Fitzgerald as "the boy who would run around and get in trouble."
Fitzgerald and Hadley shared a long conversation, then parted by promising to see each other at the next family reunion in July.
Otherwise, the day was filled with hugs and handshakes with the troops, hospital visits, autographs and a collective struggle with adjusting to the eight-hour time difference from Eastern Standard Time back in the States.
Camp Arifjan is the largest military base in the Middle East and is a major staging point for all troops and supplies going into Iraq as well as many supplies going into Afghanistan.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
Four NFL players kick off NFL-USO Tour to Persian Gulf region this week
Four NFL players who excel on the field and in the community will continue an NFL-USO tradition initiated more than 40 years ago when they embark on a weeklong visit to U.S. troops at military bases throughout the Persian Gulf.
Vikings defensive end JARED ALLEN, Giants linebacker DANNY CLARK, Cardinals wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD and Rams linebacker WILL WITHERSPOON will travel to meet and greet the troops in the annual renewal of the NFL-USO program.
In the past four decades, NFL stars such as TERRY BRADSHAW, LARRY CSONKA, FRANCO HARRIS, HOWIE LONG, DON MEREDITH, LYNN SWANN and JOHNNY UNITAS have visited troops on NFL-USO tours in such locations as Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Kuwait and Somalia.
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Minneapolis native and Arizona Cardinals star receiver Larry Fitzgerald had an impromptu mini-family reunion while on a USO tour this week in the Persian Gulf war zone with Viking Jared Allen and two other NFL players.
