After being drafted in 2004, Larry Fitzgerald has inarguably been the best wide receiver in Arizona Cardinals team history. He is considered one of the best in the game today. He has broken multiple receiving records, both in the team and league wide form, but there is one thing that he still can't add to his resume.
Fitz has been to the Super Bowl, but he doesn't have a ring to show for it. Before his eight year contract with the Cardinals expires and before he retires, his main goal is to change that.
Fitz recently told Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic that his top priority is to get to the big game and win it all. He feels that now that he is getting older, he is running out of time.
"When it's all said and done, I don't want people to say, 'Yeah, he was a talented guy who put up numbers, but he was never able to win the ultimate prize.' That's where my mind-set is at."
By the time the 2012 season begins, Fitzgerald will have just turned 29 years old. He is in his prime, but no longer can he be considered a young player anymore. He is a talented veteran that is looking to top off his already outstanding career with the cherry on top.
He admires former great players such as Michael Irvin and Jerry RIce, each of whom have titles under their belts. Now, much like they did in their careers, Fitzgerald has become more team-oriented, trying to achieve greatness through his team and not just personal accolades.
He is starting on that mission by mentoring young players Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts. Not only is that his job and something that he is expected to do as a veteran leader, but he knows that it's the quickest way to a second Super Bowl.
"I tell them, 'Before you know it, you're going to look down and find gray hair in your beard. You're going to be sore in parts that were never sore before. It changes that fast, and I never realized that before. So I need your best right now."
He's not old just yet, but if he wants to reach his lofty goals, there is no better time than now to start striving for them. If he doesn't, time may run out before he gets his chance.
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