Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald flying even higher than normal

Fitzgerald playing his best when it matters most

Tribune Newspapers  : January 17, 2009

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/  

By Tom Rock How committed are the Cardinals to the air? Turns out that one of the biggest plays of the season — maybe even in their franchise's history — was drawn up at 35,000 or so feet.

The 41-yard pass to a leaping Larry Fitzgerald, who soared above double coverage to set up the tying touchdown early in the Cardinals' divisional win over the Panthers last weekend, came on a play called "Fake Toss, 339 Taxi Pass," which was drawn up aboard the airplane carrying the Cardinals to North Carolina for the game. It literally was designed on the fly.

There was so little time to install the play that all the coaching staff could do was diagram it in magic marker and scribble it on the typed-up play-calling sheet by hand. "If we go all the way," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said, "I'm going to frame that sheet of paper."

Larry Fitzgerald rises above the pack

Fitzgerald shines as Warner leads Cardinals to franchise's first Super Bowl

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=290118022 

• Larry Fitzgerald became the fourth man in NFL history to record three consecutive 100-yard receiving games and the first to do it in the same postseason.

• Fitzgerald was the third player to have three TD receptions in an NFL/conference championship game and the first to do it in the opening half.

Larry Fitzgerald Is in the Proverbial 'Zone'

Posted Jan 18th 2009 4:35 PM by Will Brinson (author feed)  Filed Under: AZ Cardinals, Eagles, NFL Playoffs, NFL Media Watch

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/01/18/larry-fitzgerald-is-in- 

Larry Fitzgerald has never been tabbed as anything other than an elite receiver, although I just heard some discussion that he was, at one point last year, a "one trick pony." At this point, what with Larry having three touchdowns and almost a hundred yards in the first half of the NFC Championship Game, that idea sounds kind of silly.

But Fitzgerald's explosion onto the scene obviously isn't a new storyline this week; he lit the Panthers up for a franchise record-number of receiving yards last Saturday and, according to his teammates, turned into more of a leader. And when you take a look at his performance over the past five weeks, it's kind of astounding to note what he's done.

Larry Fitzgerald's Moves Freeze Eagles

Add "Super" to Larry Fitzgerald's name, because (barring a Philly comeback) tomorrow's headline writers will be doing the same. On a 2nd-and-goal inside the five, Asante Samuel was forced to shove Fitz on a quick slant in man coverage; the other option was an easy touchdown as Philadelphia sent seven. The pass interference set up 1st and goal from the one; Fitzgerald lined up solo on the left side with all other Cardinals setting up for a one. On the snap, Fitzgerald pulled off an unprecedented sextuple deke -- it was like Bret's Angry Dance, but more angry, like a mosh pit. Sheldon Brown froze like Sub-Zero hit him, and Fitz went on the quick out for the flawless TD reception.

Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald puts his name in the record book

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ 

GLENDALE, Ariz. — In his first post-season, Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald has put his name alongside some of the greatest receivers in the game.

Fitzgerald's three touchdown catches in Sunday's 32-25 win over Philadelphia for the NFC title matched the most in any conference championship game. Gary Collins of Cleveland did it against Baltimore in 1964 and Preston Pearson of Dallas matched that against the Los Angeles Rams in 1975.

Fitzgerald's most impressive record is one that he's sure to add to in the Super Bowl. His 419 yards receiving are the most for any player in one post-season in NFL history, surpassing the 409 set by Jerry Rice of San Francisco in 1988.

And he joined Tom Fears of Los Angeles (1950-51), Rice (1988-89) and Randy Moss of Minnesota (1999-2000) as the only receivers to top 100 yards receiving in three straight playoff games.