Larry Fitzgerald, the local media personality, has attended all but one of his son’s games this season and will be in Glendale on Sunday for the Vikings-Cardinals game. Larry wrote via e-mail to Sports Headliners about the relationship between his son and quarterback Kurt Warner. “He’s a winner, a Super Bowl champion, two-time MVP. He and Larry Jr. are close friends. They are good for each other. That’s why the Cardinals are a playoff team. Warner was here in Minneapolis last April 11th for the annual Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund Gala Fundraiser at r. Norman’s. I invited him and he came along with Vikings star Adrian Petersonbecause they knew how important Larry’s mom was to him.”
Warner, a 37-year-old quarterback, is second in the NFL in touchdown passes and passing yardage. In the December 8 issue of Sporting News magazine John Elway ranks Warner as his No. 4 candidate for league MVP. Brett Favre of the Jets is his No. 1.
The Cardinals are fourth in the NFL in yards per game and second in passing. Arizona’s defense is 10th in the league in yards given up per game, while the Vikings are eighth.
With a 100-yard rushing performance on Sunday, Peterson can move into a fifth place NFL all-time tie for the most 100-yard games during the first two seasons. Peterson has 14 100-yard games and Ottis Anderson of the Cardinals (1979-80) ranks fifth with 15.
With 109 rushing yards Peterson will break the team record for the most rushing yards in a single season. He has 1,413 through 13 games this year, and Robert Smith has the record of 1,521 yards set in 2000.
Vikings coach Brad Childress talking about quarterback Tarvaris Jackson who took over for the injured Gus Frerotte last Sunday: “He certainly played with confidence and was about his business. He was precise in what he did. You didn’t see a whole bunch of inaccuracy. You didn’t see extra steps. He knew exactly what he needed to do…and that is what you want. We talked early about any indecision or things like that, that you have got to let those things go. So I thought he did a great job in terms of his preparation and obviously getting it on the field.”
Childress talking about whether he envisioned defensive end Jared Allen’s personality and leadership: “No, I don’t think you could possibly (have done so). You have to have a really vivid imagination. I’m not talking about the sack portion. I’m talking about cut up in the locker room, personality, etcetera.”
Allen is tied for fourth in NFL sacks with John Abraham of Atlanta, 12.5 each.