Larry Fitzgerald Jr., the all-pro Cardinals wide receiver from Minneapolis who will be back in town this spring to host his first annual youth football camp, thinks the Vikings will go beyond last year’s 10 win season and will become a playoff team that earns a first round bye if quarterback Brett Favre comes out of retirement to play here.
Fitzgerald told Sports Headliners that among NFC teams he ranks the Vikings “right up there at the top” even without Favre. Last year Fitzgerald, 25, helped lead the Cardinals, 9-7 during the regular season, to a surprising NFC championship game win and the franchise’s first Super Bowl where they lost to Pittsburgh. “The NFC is going to be loaded and I want to throw our hat right there in the mix, too,” he said.
Fitzgerald witnessed the productivity of a veteran quarterback with the Cardinals last season. Kurt Warner, 37, is a former Super Bowl quarterback like Favre. Last season Warner was second in the NFL in both touchdown passes and passing yards in helping the Cardinals have an extraordinary post-season. It was Warner’s third Super Bowl.
Favre’s future with the Vikings is reportedly contingent on whether it’s decided he needs major surgery on the partially torn biceps on his right throwing arm. If the surgery isn’t necessary the Vikings may have a 39-year-old quarterback who is one of the most statistically impressive and biggest winners in NFL history. His football knowledge, courage and gun-slinging arm could take the Vikings back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1977.
“If he were to come in there, he would do phenomenal things for that team,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s just an unbelievable player. You’re talking about a three-time (NFL) MVP. …”
Asked more specifically about Favre’s impact on the Vikings, Fitzgerald talked about the quarterback’s many seasons (18) in the NFL. “I just think his experience (will impact the Vikings),” Fitzgerald said. “I mean the Vikings are almost right there. Those guys are right there on the cusp of winning a championship. You saw them last year; they were a few plays from beating the Eagles (in the playoffs) last year and getting to the championship game. Those guys have so much talent, offensively, defensively. I mean with that pass rush, that front four that they have, and secondary, and Adrian Peterson. I mean those guys are loaded. You add Brett Favre and that kind of experience. It just puts you over the top.”