Fitzgerald has helped Arizona Cardinals join the NFL's elite

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (Ieft) battles with Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan during Sunday's game in Nashville, Tenn. [Click to enlarge]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals have came a long way in just six seasons.

It's hard to believe, but the defending NFC champions were a very bad team just a few years ago. In 2003 -- the year before Fitzgerald joined the club -- Arizona finished 4-12, tied for the worst record in football. But since then, the Cardinals, with help from players such as Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and quarterback Kurt Warner, have turned into one of the conference's best squads, reaching the Super Bowl last winter and leading the NFC West this season.

"Definitely has come full circle," said Fitzgerald. "It was pretty bad when I got here, but the management and coaching staff did a good job of getting quality players in here, quality coaches in here and getting the program turned around."

Fitzgerald was around the National Football League a long time before he actually joined the league, serving as a ballboy for the Minnesota Vikings while he was in high school. Also, Fitzgerald's dad is a sportswriter for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder in the Twin Cities.

MB: Growing up the son of a sportswriter, did that give you a different perspective on playing in the game today?

LF: I don't know if it gave me so much of an advantage or disadvantage. It was cool as a kid to get to hang around professional athletes, but being an advantage? I wouldn't say it was any more of an advantage than (anyone else had) growing up.

Fitzgerald leads the NFL with nine touchdown catches this season and is third in receptions with 75. He caught his 500th career pass on Sunday against the Titans, the second-fastest player to 500 catches in NFL history.

MB: You matched up a lot with Titans' cornerback Cortland Finnegan on Sunday. He's one of the more well-known corners in the league -- a very disruptive defender. Any thoughts on dealing with him during the game?

LF: He's pretty talented, very quick, plays to the whistle every snap. He's a good corner. He's talented.

MB: The Cardinals are heading into the stretch run of the season. Any thoughts on that?

LF: We need to get a win. We've got a big coming up against the Vikings. That's the most important one because it's the next one.

MB: How do you feel about playing your hometown team?

LF: I just want to win. It's just another game, one that's the most important because it's the next one.