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MNF Special Guest Minimize
Dec 07 Larry Fitzgerald! - Thursday, December 03, 2009

 Larry Darnell Fitzgerald, Jr. (born August 31, 1983, in Minneapolis, Minnesota), is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Cardinals. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

Early years

 

For three years, starting at the age of 15, Fitzgerald was a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings. He spent his freshman year at Minnehaha Academy, where he started on the Redhawks varsity football team as a defensive back and played on the losing end of one of the most lopsided games in Minnesota state high school football history when DeLaSalle High School beat the Redhawks. For his sophomore year, Fitzgerald transferred to the Academy of Holy Angels, where he played alongside future University of Wisconsin quarterback John Stocco, and then to the Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, in the middle of 2001 to help him better prepare for college. He graduated a year and a half later in May 2002. He originally committed to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., before enrolling at the University ofPittsburgh.College career

Fitzgerald attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he was widely considered one of the best wide receivers in college football. After his sophomore season, Fitzgerald was recognized as the best player in the NCAA with the 2003 Walter Camp Award and the Touchdown Club of Columbus's Chic Harley Award, and as the best wide receiver in college football with the 2003 Biletnikoff Award and the Touchdown Club's Paul Warfield Award. He was also a unanimous 2003 All-America selection and a runner-up for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in college football; Oklahoma's Jason White won that award by a relatively slim margin.

In just 26 games with the Panthers, Fitzgerald hauled in 161 passes for 2,677 yards and set a new Pitt record with 34 receiving touchdowns. He was the first player in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and his 14 games with at least 100 yards receiving broke Antonio Bryant's previous all-time Panthers record of 13.

Fitzgerald also holds an NCAA record with at least one touchdown catch in 18 straight games.

Larry Fitzgerald - Professional career

Fitzgerald left the University of Pittsburgh after a tremendous year in which he caught 92 passes for 1,672 yards and 22 TDs. He was drafted third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, whose then coach, Dennis Green, knew Fitzgerald from his time as a Vikings ball boy.

In 2004, Fitzgerald had 58 receptions for 780 yards and 8 touchdowns. In 2005 he led the NFL with 103 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named to his first Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald teams with Anquan Boldin to create one of the most dangerous wide receiver tandems in the NFL. In 2005, they became only the third duo from the same team to each catch over 100 passes and also the third pair of teammates to top the 1,400-yard mark.

In 2006, Fitzgerald was injured and missed part of the season but still produced 69 receptions for 946 yards and 6 touchdowns. As part of his2007 Pro Bowl season, he caught 100 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns. Following the 2007 season Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension with Arizona. While still under contract at the time, performance bonuses forced the team's hand into a massive extension. Fitzgerald's numbers earned him the nickname "Sticky Fingers" and "The Best Hands in the NFL" in local media.

2008 season

Fitzgerald makes a touchdown catch at the 2009 Pro Bowl

During the NFC Championship for the 2008 NFL season, Fitzgerald tied an NFL record with three touchdown receptions in a playoff game. His three touchdown catches occurred in the first half; he became the first player in NFL history to accomplish that feat in a conference championship game. Fitzgerald also set a single postseason record with 546 receiving yards, 30 receptions, and 7 touchdown receptions, surpassing Jerry Rice's records of the 1988–89 NFL playoffs. He and the Cardinals represented the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII. During Super Bowl XLIII, Fitzgerald caught two touchdown passes in the Cardinals 27-23 loss to the Steelers. Fitzgerald followed up this performance by catching two more touchdown passes in the 2009 Pro Bowl, earning him MVP honors. After the Pro Bowl was over it was revealed that Fitzgerald had been playing at least the whole postseason with a broken left thumb as well as torn cartilage in the same hand. It is speculated that Fitzgerald has had this injury since November 5, 2008, when he showed up on the injury report with an injured thumb. After his record-breaking postseason, capped by his Pro Bowl MVP award, many analysts, including NFL Network's Jamie Dukes, regarded Fitzgerald as one of the best receivers in the NFL.

Statistics

Year Team G GS Rec Yards Avg Lng TD
2004 ARI 16 16 58 780 13.4 48 8
2005 ARI 16 16 103 1,409 13.7 47 10
2006 ARI 13 13 69 946 13.7 57 6
2007 ARI 15 15 100 1,409 14.1 48T 10
2008 ARI 16 16 96 1,431 14.9 78T 12
Tot. ARI 76 76 426 5,975 14.0 78T 46

Personal

Fitzgerald's father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., is a sportswriter for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. When he covered Super Bowl XLIII, he was believed to be the first reporter to cover his own son in a Super Bowl.

Fitzgerald also has a younger brother, Marcus R. Fitzgerald. Marcus is an American football wide receiver for the California Redwoods of the United Football League.

 

 
Nov16: Antrel Rolle "the magic man" - Saturday, November 14, 2009

 Antrel Rocelious Rolle (born December 16, 1982 in Homestead, Florida) is a an American football free safety, drafted eighth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals out of the University of Miami.


High school career

Antrel Rolle attended South Dade High School in Homestead, Florida. As a senior, on defense, he posted three interceptions and 86 tackles. On offense, he had four receptions for 160 yards (40.0 yards per rec. avg.) and a touchdown. As a junior, on defense, he posted three interceptions, 85 tackles, and five pass deflections, and he returned three kickoffs and three punts for touchdowns.

Clemson WR Curtis Baham goes over the top of a Miami player before being stopped by Miami DB Antrel Rolle.College career

Rolle was an All-American CB at Miami where he especially excelled in press-coverage. Notable performances included shutting down future All-American receivers Larry Fitzgerald (3 catches for 26 yards) and Calvin Johnson (2 catches for 10 yards).

In 2001, his freshman season, Rolle was one of four true freshman to letter at Miami. He appeared in eight games, recording eight tackles and an interception. Rolle started 11 games as a sophomore in 2002, earning All-Big East first-team honors. Rolle totaled a career-high 66 tackles with two sacks, six tackles for a loss, seven pass deflections, and an interception for the season.

In 2003, as a junior, Rolle recorded 51 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, seven broken up passes, and two interceptions on the year. In his final season, 2004, Rolle was a consensus All-American. He recorded 58 tackles his senior year, 6.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, six pass deflections, and an interception. He was hurt late in the '04 season and missed the Virginia Tech game because of a foot sprain.

Professional career

The Arizona Cardinals selected Rolle with the eighth pick of the 2005 NFL draft, making him the second cornerback picked. (Pacman Jones was taken sixth by the Tennessee Titans). Antrel Rolle also went to the 2009 Super Bowl.

Rolle's career did not start off well mainly because of torn cartilage in his left knee suffered September 25, 2005 in a game against the Seattle Seahawks. The torn cartilage required surgery on October 3, 2005 and put Rolle out for almost the entire 2005 NFL season.

Rolle returned and played on December 11, 2005 against the Washington Redskins, where he recorded his first interception and returned it for 29 yards. He played in week 14 and again in week 15 against the Houston Texans.

The 2007 campaign did not start well for Rolle as he lost his starting spot in the preseason. However, he battled back and had the highlight of his career on November 18 when he intercepted 3 passes by Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals, returning the first two for touchdowns of 55 and 54 yards. He returned the third interception all the way to the end zone as well, but it was called back on a penalty. Rolle was rewarded for his performance when he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Rolle finished the season with 61 tackles, 5 interceptions, and three return touchdowns. His interception total was tied for ninth most in the NFL. Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt announced on February 2008 that Rolle will be moved to free safety for the 2008 season.

Antrel is commonly called "Antron" Rolle by announcers mistakenly. Many Cardinals fans have adapted Antron as a transformer-like nickname for Rolle.

 

 
Nov 06 Damien Anderson & Gary Stills @ Doc's Place - Monday, November 09, 2009

Gary Stills (born July 11, 1974 in Trenton, New Jersey) is an American football linebacker for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia. Stills has also played for the Baltimore Ravens and St. Louis Rams.

Early years

Stills attended Valley Forge Military Academy where as a senior he registered 162 tackles with 7.5 sacks.

College career

Stills played college football at West Virginia University. During his career, he finished with 159 tackles and 26 sacks. He majored in sports management.

Stills best season was in 1997. As a junior, Stills finished the year with 12 sacks. In the season opener against Marshall, Stills had a school-record 4 sacks. He finished the year with 67 total tackles while earning all-Big East tackles.

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

Stills was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round (75th overall) in the 1999 NFL Draft. In his rookie year, Stills only played in two games and was inactive for the other 14. In 2000, he played 11 games on special teams and finished the year with ten tackles. The following year, he posted 15 tackles and also had a period in NFL Europe, playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy. In 2002, he played in all 16 games and finished the campaign with a career high 44 tackles and two sacks. 2003 was another solid year for Stills who recorded 38 tackles and a career high three sacks. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl. In 2004, he played in 16 games making 30 tackles and 2.5 sacks. In his final year with the Chiefs, Stills recorded 19 tackles.

Baltimore Ravens

Stills signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a three year contract on March 24, 2006. In his first year with the franchise, he played in 16 games and recorded a team record 44 special teams tackles. In 2007, he again played in 16 games and finished the season with 15 tackles and one sack. He was released from the Ravens on August 30, 2008 during final cuts.

St. Louis Rams

Two days after being let go by the Ravens, Stills was signed by the St. Louis Rams on September 1, 2008.

Las Vegas Locomotives

Stills was drafted by the Las Vegas Locomotives on June 18, 2009.

  Damien Anderson 

(born July 17, 1979 in Wilmington, Illinois) is a professional Canadian football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals in 2002. He played college football at Northwestern Wildcats.

Damien AndersonCollege career

Anderson was a standout at Northwestern University, finishing second in the nation in total rushing yards in 2000 behind LaDainian Tomlinson while also finishing 5th for the Heisman Trophy.

Professional career

He made an amazing recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident on Jan. 3, 2004. Anderson spent 14 days in an intensive care unit and nearly three weeks in the hospital after undergoing surgery to remove his spleen and repair a fractured eye socket. He also suffered liver damage, broken ribs, and a collapsed lung in the rollover accident. Anderson was fully recovered in time for the Cardinals' June minicamp.

№: --     CFL Free Agent
Date of birth: July 17, 1979 (age 30)
Place of birth: Wilmington, Illinois
Career information
Status: Free Agent
CFL status: Import
Position(s): Running Back
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight: 218 lb (99 kg)
Jersey №:
College: Northwestern
NFL Draft: 2002 / Undrafted
Organizations
 As player:
2002–2005
2007–2008
Arizona Cardinals
Edmonton Eskimos

 

 

 
Nov 2nd Special Guest: Ben Patrick #89 AZ Cardinals - Thursday, October 29, 2009

Ben Patrick tight end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Duke and Delaware.

Early years

Patrick attended Herschel V. Jenkins High School in Savannah, Georgia, and was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball.

College career

Patrick began his college career at Duke University, where he red shirt his first year and then went on to play three seasons. After earning a degree in African American studies, he transferred to the University of Delaware for his final season of college eligibility in 2006.  With the Blue Hens, Ben went on to lead Division I-AA tight ends in receiving with 64 catches for 639 yards and six touchdowns. He was an all Atlantic Ten Conference first team pick and was named a first-team All-America, He also became the first Blue Hens player invited to the Hula Bowl. Patrick was a semi-finalist for the John Mackey Award given to the top tight end position player in the nation. At the end of the season, he was rated the best tight end prospect in the NCAA Division 1-AA ranks by The NFL Draft Report in his senior season.

Professional career

Patrick was selected by the Cardinals with the 25th pick in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. On September 4, 2007, Patrick was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad after being cut from the roster less than a week earlier. He was promoted to the active roster on October 29. Patrick finished the 2007 season playing in 8 games with 3 games started with 7 receptions for 73 yards, including a long of 21 yards, for two touchdowns. During the 2008 regular season Patrick caught 11 passes for 104 yards, but no touchdowns. In Super Bowl XLIII, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patrick caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kurt Warner in the second quarter.

 
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