The Charmed Life of Larry Fitzgerald

If you're Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the last year hasn't been so bad. Think about it: You had 96 catches for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season; you had three touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game, you had two more touchdowns in Super Bowl XLIII (so what if you wound up losing the game?), and you're named the MVP of the Pro Bowl. Not a bad year, right?

Well, things just got a little bit better for Larry on Friday, as it was announced that he was the cover guy for EA's Madden NFL 10 (along with Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu).

So what does Larry think about being on the cover? Why is he sure he's going to reverse the Madden Curse? What's the latest on Anquan Boldin's contract situation? And why does he think Matt Leinart is the next Steve Young? I asked Larry all of these questions and more during some time here in New York. Read the full interview after the jump.

Randy Kim: OK, so you had a great year. Three touchdowns in the NFC conference championship game, a great performance in the Super Bowl, then you won the Pro Bowl MVP Award, and now the cover of Madden NFL 10. How great of an honor is the Madden cover coming on the heels of all of that?

Larry Fitzgerald: Well, being on the cover of Madden is a dream that every player has, and is the opportunity of a lifetime. Sharing the cover with Troy Polamalu makes it even more special.

Kim: Are you a big video game guy?

Fitzgerald: I wouldn't consider myself a big video game guy. I hold my own when I'm playing, I play during the season in the locker room with the other guys. I'm not the best, but you're not really gonna beat me down.

Kim: Well, now being on the cover, this gives you trash-talking rights above everyone else, right?

Fitzgerald: Maybe so. I'm not much of a trash-talker, but if guys get me going, I'll open up a little bit.

Kim: Did you have any favorite video games growing up?

Fitzgerald: I actually was a big Madden fan, growing up in Minnesota and rooting for the Vikings, so I'd play as my team -- Daunte (Culpepper) throwing it deep to Randy Moss and Cris Carter, and running out of the backfield with Robert Smith, so, you know, I racked up a lot of points.

Kim: So now that you're on the cover, is this one of those moments where you're like, 'Whoa, I used to play this game as a kid, and now I'm on the cover?!?'

Fitzgerald: It's kind of come full-circle. I look at the cover and I'm like, 'Wow, I'm really on it.' In all of the years I've been playing this game, I've never had the opportunity to be on the cover, so it's truly, truly an honor.

Kim: Well, you knew this question was coming; are you worried at all about the dreaded Madden curse?

Fitzgerald: No, I was thinking about this on the plane coming over here, and there are three things that are different about this year. First, this is the first time there are two guys on the cover in the 21-year history of the game. Second, John Madden retired this year. And third, both of us have long hair, which has never happened before either. So there's three things right there that put it in favor of going in the right direction. How cool would it be if Troy and I wind up splitting the MVP honors this year? How crazy would that be? Then everyone would be chomping at the bit to get on the cover, right?

Kim: Yeah, maybe you guys both make it back to the Super Bowl again, but this time the Cardinals win, and Madden comes out of retirement and calls the game.

Fitzgerald: Yeah, like Michael Jordan dropping 55 in the Garden. That'd be nice.

Kim: So this is the year of 'Reverse the Curse'.

Fitzgerald: Reverse the curse.

Kim: Alright, good to hear. But speaking of Madden, he obviously retired recently; did you ever get the chance to meet him?

Fitzgerald: On several different occasions. He's a great man, his knowledge and insight of the game are amazing, and we're sorely going to miss him and his presence, but I actually got the chance to play in the last game he ever broadcasted, so that's something special for me. But it's going to give him an opportunity now to immerse himself even more so in the game, and make this an even better game in the future.

Kim: Where do you think he ranks all time in terms of NFL announcers?

Fitzgerald: Well, I haven't been alive long enough to see everybody. I've heard about some of the guys in the past that supposedly did a phenomenal job. I know he has to rank among the best that have ever done it with his knowledge and experience and the championships he won in Oakland. I think he's right up there.

Kim: The draft is Saturday here in New York. The Cardinals pick 31st. Who should you guys go after?

Fitzgerald: It's a good question. I don't really know what our biggest needs are. That's more for management upstairs and Rod Graves and his staff to just try to enhance our ball club the best that he can. He's done a good job over the years of finding prime talent, and I'm confident he's going to get it done again.

Kim: Who is the top wide receiver in this year's draft class?

Fitzgerald: Well, Michael Crabtree I think has kind of separated himself with everything that he's accomplished in such a short amount of time, he played for a winner, and his numbers have just been amazing, and he played in a really tough conference. He played great against the best competition. Unfortunately he hurt his foot and he wasn't able to do a lot of the things that he's capable of, but I know he's going to be a special player in this league for a long time to come.

Kim: The Cardinals came so close last season. What has to happen for you guys to push through and win it all next year?

Fitzgerald: Well, I think the most important thing is that we have Kurt (Warner) re-signed for another two years. I know we have some other offseason issues we need to address, but we have the main components coming back and we're going to be strong. I'm happy about that.

Kim: It's been reported that you offered to restructure your contract to make room for Anquan Boldin. Have there been any developments on that front?

Fitzgerald: Well, me and the team have been talking about it and we're going to continue to move towards that, and I think we can get something done for Anquan. He's a close personal friend of mine and I want to see him stay with us, because he brings such a tremendous work ethic and so much commitment to the community. I mean, he's a vital part not only of our football team but of the community in Arizona.

Kim: If you don't have Anquan next to you next season, do you think you can win the Super Bowl without him?

Fitzgerald: Well, it'd definitely be a different team, and we'd have to work towards those goals, but I wouldn't put anything past the guys in our locker room. We're all dedicated and committed to getting back to that place again, down in Miami, playing on the biggest stage, regardless of who's there. If I'm there, Kurt's there, Q's there, we're going to keep fighting and keep working.

Kim: And you mentioned Kurt Warner re-signing; what does that do for the team's mood heading into the season?

Fitzgerald: Whenever you get a Pro Bowl-type player like Kurt Warner back on your roster, that's great for your organization, because we all know what he's capable of doing, we all know his accomplishments and what he's done throughout his entire career.

Kim: Kurt re-signed, but Matt Leinart is still there. Despite all Leinart's gone through, is the mindset that he is still the quarterback of your future as well?

Fitzgerald: Oh, definitely, man. Every year he's progressing. He's getting better. Every time he came into a game last year he played strong for us, and we know Matt, when he gets his opportunity, is going to come out there and have success. I always talk to him about Steve Young. I tell him, Steve Young went to the USFL first, went to Tampa, then went to San Francisco for a few years and sat behind Joe Montana, then after six years or so he put together a phenomenal career. First-ballot Hall of Famer and I tell Matt, he's left-handed, you're left-handed, you're both great athletes. I don't see anything different.

Kim: So he's the guy?

Fitzgerald: He's the guy.

Kim: Alright, thank you very much for your time, Larry.

Fitzgerald: No problem.