Michael Floyd figures he spent 2011 showing everyone the quality of his character. Because of that, he gave himself the opportunity in 2012 to fulfill a dream and play in the NFL.

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Profile: Michael Floyd | Discuss Cards’ pick on Facebook

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On Friday in Tempe, Floyd sported a cream-colored suit and a big smile as he was introduced as the Cardinals’ first-round selection. A year ago, when he was suspended from the Notre Dame football team after a drunken-driving incident, he wondered whether he had blown a chance to make it to the NFL.

“I thought it was over,” he said on Friday. “But when I got the chance to reveal myself and show people that’s not really me. I changed from there. If I wanted to be in this position I am now, I had to make big changes.”

Floyd made those changes. He said he became a homebody, made some changes among friends. He worked out on his own when coach Brian Kelly didn’t let him participate in spring practice.

He turned down a chance to enter the supplemental draft and stayed for his senior year. Part of his motivation was football; part was fulfilling a promise to his mother to earn his degree.

He finished requirements for a sociology degree in December and will walk in graduation ceremonies in May.

“I didn’t want my image to be a negative one,” he said. “I just did everything I could to make sure that image was a positive one.”

Kelly reinstated Floyd in August, and he had a superlative senior season. He finished with 100 catches for 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns.

At 6 feet 2 inches and 220 pounds, Floyd runs the 40-yard dash in less than 4.5 seconds, and gives the Cardinals a big powerful receiver to pair with Larry Fitzgerald. Floyd might be a little faster.

Those qualities were easy for scouts to see. What was harder to determine was how much football meant to Floyd. Passing on the supplemental draft and returning to Notre Dame for a degree impressed Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt.

So did Floyd’s visit to Arizona about a week ago.

“You can really get in depth with some football stuff here,” Whisenhunt said, “when it’s not so hectic like it is at the (scouting) combine.”

Floyd confirmed what the Cardinals’ legwork had told them: He was mature and honest about his mistakes.

“I think being at Notre Dame there is always pressure on you, off the field and on the field,” Floyd said. “People want to see how you react to things. So I think coming here I don’t feel too much pressure. That’s what’s been engrained in me. I know how to handle pressure.”

Floyd grew up in St. Paul, Minn., and has known Fitzgerald, who is from Minneapolis, since Floyd was in high school. They have worked out with the same strength and conditioning coach, Bill Welle, in the Minneapolis area.

“I’ve watched Michael grow from being a boy into a man,” Welle said on Friday. “He had some roads to cross, some bridges to go over. The maturity I’ve seen over the last six months to a year is amazing.”

Welle started in the training business working with former NFL receiver Cris Carter. He envisions Fitzgerald mentoring Floyd the way Carter mentored Randy Moss when they played for the Vikings.

“I’ve said all along he’s similar (physically) to Larry,” Welle said. “Michael is really, really strong. And Larry’s going to teach him the finer points of route running and fundamentals.”

Fitzgerald reportedly had lobbied for the Cardinals to take Floyd, and Floyd has a temporary place to stay when he comes to Arizona. Fitzgerald has hosted numerous teammates at the house, and Floyd joked that “he has enough room for me.

“He (Fitzgerald) texted me and was excited,” Floyd said. “I was happy, too. I saw the 602 area code (on Thursday), and I was really excited I get the chance to play for a good organization.”

At his news conference on Friday, Floyd thanked the Cardinals for “looking past the stuff that I’ve been through when I was in college and giving me a second chance to reveal who I am as a person and as a player.”

Floyd and Fitz

A quick Michael Floyd-Larry Fitzgerald comparison from their high school careers in Minnesota:

Floyd:

- Two-time all-state and All-America selection.

- 122 receptions for 2,487 yards and 33 TDs during his career.

- 1,247 yards and 17 TDs during his senior season.

- Also lettered in basketball.

Fitzgerald:

- Two-time all-state and All-America selection.

- 127 receptions for 2,601 yards and 29 TDs during his career.

- 1,254 yards and 17 TDs during his senior season.

- Also lettered in basketball.

Well, the Cardinals didn’t exactly take any pressure off quarterback Kevin Kolb by selecting receiver Michael Floyd in the first round on Thursday. Not that taking pressure off any player is a goal.

Profile: Floyd | Discuss Cards’ pick on Facebook

If Floyd is the player the Cardinals think he is, this offense has threats. Larry Fitzgerald, Beanie Wells, Ryan Williams (if healthy) and some tight ends who can catch the ball. Yes, the offensive line, (guard or tackle) still needs addressed. I look for that to happen Friday in the third round.

But in Fitzgerald and Floyd, Kolb has two big receivers who have the size and skills to beat press coverage and make catches when tightly covered. That’s essential in today’s game.

It would be nice if Kolb had better protection, and the Cardinals will try to address that Friday. But Kolb also figures to be better after an off-season of immersing himself in this offensive scheme. That should translate to feeling comfortable in the pocket and trusting where his receivers are going to be. The Cardinals have to hope Kolb develops those traits, or that John Skelton continues to improve.

The Cardinals had choices at No. 13. Offensive tackle Reilly Reiff was available. So was pass rusher Melvin Ingram.

They took Floyd because they reasoned that the talent at receiver dropped off suddenly after Floyd. Not so at offensive tackle, in their estimation. They think they can find a guard or tackle in that area. We’ll find out Friday.

It will take a lot in trade for the Cardinals to move into the second round. It’s doubtful they have enough picks to make that move, so the only way to do it would be to include players. That’s always a difficult thing to pull off.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – What a fitting way for the Arizona Cardinals to finish their season.

They win, in overtime of course, with Larry Fitzgerald’s spectacular plays making the difference.

Fitzgerald had two such catches in the game-winning drive, leading to a 28-yard field goal by Jay Feely that gave the Cardinals a 23-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Arizona’s fourth overtime victory — all at home — in the last nine weeks of the season. The four overtime wins in a season are an NFL record.

“I wish we could play more games in overtime,” Fitzgerald said. “If we play 16 games in overtime next year, we might go 16-0.”

Fitzgerald made a leaping grab against two defenders early in the drive for a 26-yard gain, but he saved the best for last, a diving, one-handed catch for eight yards that got the team within field goal range and eventually set up the winning score.

“I actually thought it was too far,” quarterback John Skelton said of his throw. “I just saw his arm stick out, stick it, and stick the landing. We come to expect that from Larry. It’s almost like it’s not even a shocker anymore because he does it so often.”

Skelton didn’t mention it, but he fainted in the locker-room before the game after getting fluid drained from a knee.

“Pre-game he scared us all. He fell out and he had a little fainting issue in the locker-room,” Fitzgerald said. “We were all nervous about him being able to play today and he fought through that and was able to go out there and perform and get our team a win. That shows the kind of toughness he has.”

Arizona (8-8) finished the season 7-2 after a six-game losing streak left it 1-6.

“We’re 1-0 in 2012,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said, hoping that the strong second half of the season will propel the team into a successful 2012 campaign.

Seattle (7-9) had rallied to tie the game after trailing 20-10 early in the fourth quarter.

Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 149 yards after one reception for two yards in the first half. It was his 32nd career 100-yard receiving game, sixth this season.

“The performance of Larry Fitzgerald, he is an incredible football player,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “He is as good as you can get in this game and he showed it. I just marvel at the things he does. He has done it before and he did it again and it proves who he is.”

Fitzgerald joined Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison as the only players to top 1,400 yards receiving in four seasons.

Skelton completed 22 of 40 for 271 yards and a touchdown with one interception for Arizona. Tarvaris Jackson was 21 of 35 for 222 yards and a touchdown with one pick for the Seahawks.

The Cardinals earlier had overtime victories over St. Louis, Dallas and Cleveland. The Seahawks finished with the same record as a year ago, when 7-9 was good enough to win the NFC West.

“We know we have a better team this year,” Seattle safety Earl Thomas said. “We are young but the experience that we got this year and all the plays we made we can build on that next year.”

Arizona’s Patrick Peterson, who made the Pro Bowl on special teams as a rookie, returned a punt 42 yards to set up a field goal, then blocked Steven Hauschka’s 24-yard field goal attempt. It was the NFL-leading fifth blocked field goal for the Cardinals, two of them by Peterson.

Seattle won the toss heading into overtime, and Leon Washington’s 47-yard kickoff return gave the Seahawks the ball at their own 40, but they failed to move it and had to punt.

Arizona’s game-winning drive started at the 19. On third-and-3 at the 26, Skelton threw over the middle to Fitzgerald, who caught it between two defenders for a 26-yard gain to the Seahawks 48. Skelton’s quarterback sneak on fourth and less than a yard gave Arizona a first down at the Seattle 37.

Arizona had it second-and-9 at the 36 when Skelton threw toward but not particularly close to Fitzgerald, who somehow gathered in the ball with one hand and cradled it as he fell to the ground. A review confirmed that it was a catch. LaRod Stephens-Howling, filling in for the injured Beanie Wells, rushed three times to the Seattle nine, and Feely’s third field goal of the game gave the Cardinals the win.

Down 20-10 early in the fourth quarter, Seattle tied with a pair of big plays by two rookies, Richard Sherman and Lockette. First, Sherman stepped in front of intended receiver Andre Roberts for an interception that set up a chip shot field goal by Hauschka, then Jackson lofted the long pass to Lockette, who beat cornerback Marshay Green, and it was 20-20 with 7:47 remaining. Green had just been activated from the practice squad on Saturday.

After Washington’s 48-yard touchdown run tied it at 10-10 with 10:56 to go in the third quarter, the Cardinals went 80 yards in eight plays. Skelton was 6 for 6 for 70 yards, capped by a 13-yard TD toss to Todd Heap, the tight end’s first score in an injury-plagued first season with Arizona, putting the Cardinals up 17-10.

Skelton’s 42-yard pass to Fitzgerald led to Feely’s 43-yard field goal that boosted the lead to 20-10 12:18 to play.

Seattle responded, driving from its 20 to the Arizona 6. But the offence stalled, and Peterson rushed untouched from the end to block the short field goal try.

Peterson, who had been slowed in practice all week by a strained Achilles tendon, nearly broke free for what would have been an NFL record fifth punt return for a touchdown. Instead, punter Jon Ryan tripped him up at the Seattle 31. Still, the 42-yard return set up Feely’s 41-yard field goal that put Arizona up 10-3 with 3:28 left in the first half.

Wells was a surprise inactive. He had been listed as questionable but had played through the pain in his left knee through the season.

Skelton finished 5-2 as a starter, 6-2 if you count the San Francisco game.

Quarterback Kevin Kolb missed the final three games of his frustrating first season with Arizona because of a concussion, the result of a knee to the head on the Cardinals’ third play of the game against San Francisco on Dec. 11. He missed four games earlier in the season with a right turf toe injury.

Notes: Marshawn Lynch’s string of 11 straight games with a touchdown came to an end. … Peterson set an NFL rookie record for punt return yards (699), the second-most of any player in league history. … Seattle’s Doug Baldwin became the first undrafted rookie free agent to lead his team in receptions and yards receiving since Bill Groman of did it for the Houston Oilers in 1960. … The University of Phoenix Stadium roof was closed even though it was sunny and 28 C outside. … The stadium already had extra seats installed for Monday night’s Fiesta Bowl matchup between Oklahoma State and Stanford.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Another stumbling start. Another fantastic finish.

The Arizona Cardinals followed a familiar script and, as a result, are .500
for the first time since the second week of the season.

Big plays by Patrick Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald set up Jay Feely’s
22-yard field goal that gave the Cardinals a 20-17 overtime victory over the
Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

After a six-game losing streak, Arizona (7-7) has won six of seven—three
in overtime—and still has a shot at the playoffs. All seven victories came
after the team trailed in the second half.

“Yeah, it’s pretty stressful,” said coach Ken Whisenhunt, who became the
winningest coach in franchise history with his 43rd victory. “I wish we could
find a way to do better than that, but I’ll take every one of them.”

Both teams were without their starting quarterbacks because of concussions.
John Skelton stepped in for Kevin Kolb and completed 28 of 46 for 313 yards and
a touchdown with an interception.

Skelton’s 32-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald, which followed Peterson’s
32-yard punt return, led to Feely’s chip-shot field goal to win the game.

“It wouldn’t be a win if we didn’t do it that way,” Skelton said about the
Cardinals’ knack for playing sloppy early, then pulling it out at the end.
“It’s a fun and exciting game, but it shouldn’t have to come down to that.”

The Browns (4-10) blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead en route to their
fourth loss in a row and seventh in eight games.

The theme was the same—playing close but coming up short.

“It always happens,” Cleveland cornerback Joe Haden said. “We just have
to figure out a way to get it fixed.”

Quarterback Colt McCoy didn’t even make the trip to Arizona after sustaining
a concussion on a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from the Steelers’ James
Harrison. McCoy, as has been well documented, returned to the game a short time
later after no concussion test was administered. Later, he began showing
symptoms and didn’t practice last week.

Seneca Wallace stepped in for his first start of the season and promptly
drove the team downfield for a touchdown after the opening kickoff. He had
Cleveland up 10-0 until the final 19 seconds of the first half. When he
connected with Greg Little for a 76-yard touchdown—the Browns’ longest play in
four seasons—Cleveland led 17-7 with 3:01 left in the third quarter.

Wallace was 18 of 31 for 226 yards.

“We had them on their heels and when it gets to that point, it is about not
making mistakes,” Wallace said, “not turning the ball over and giving them
some easy points, and making plays. They played well on defense and made some
plays. I need to help us out a lot more and make some more plays for our team.”

Coach Pat Shurmer was asked if he would stay with Wallace, regardless of
McCoy’s status.

“It’s too early to tell,” Shurmer said. “That decision is made when
you’ve got both guys healthy.”

Arizona became the ninth team in NFL history to win three overtime games in
a season and just the second to win all three at home.

“We have a flair for dramatics,” Fitzgerald said. “Today was kind of
typical Cardinals fashion.”

Little caught five passes for a career-best 131 yards for the Browns. A
healthy Peyton Hillis gained a season-high 99 yards on 26 carries for Cleveland.

Arizona scored the final 13 points.

Skelton was 5 of 7 for 82 yards in the 11-play, 87-yard drive that
culminated in Beanie Wells’ 1-yard touchdown run that cut it to 17-14 with 8:33
remaining in regulation.

A holding penalty on Cleveland’s subsequent kickoff return pinned the Browns
at the 10, and O’Brien Schofield got Arizona’s first sack of the day on the
elusive Wallace to push Cleveland back to the 5. Schofield got through on the
next play as well, grabbing Wallace by an ankle and spinning him to the ground
as the quarterback lost the ball.

Initially, Wallace was ruled down on the play, but Whisenhunt challenged and
the call was reversed. Replays showed the ball coming loose well before Wallace
fell backward onto the turf. The Cardinals took over at the 5, needing only to
punch it in to take the lead.

But Jabaal Sheard got his second sack, and Cleveland’s fourth of the game
and Arizona settled for Feely’s 33-yard field goal that tied it at 17 with 5:40
to play.

Cleveland won the coin toss to get the ball first in overtime, but the
Browns managed only one first down before having to punt. Brad Maynard had
artfully kicked the ball away from Peterson, the spectacular rookie whose four
punt returns for scores have tied an NFL record.

“I thought we did a very nice job, even on that last punt,” Shurmer said.
“We had a guy down in his face and you know we were trying to kick the ball out
of bounds or try to pin him down there and the guy in his face thought he saw
the fair catch.”

He doesn’t know Peterson very well, then. The rookie disdains the fair
catch, especially with the game on the line.

He fielded it near his left sideline and ran across the field before making
a run for it near the right sideline. He took it to the Cleveland 40 and, two
plays later, Skelton found Fitzgerald, more open than he’d been all day, far
downfield.

Both teams play on Saturday, Arizona at Cincinnati, and Cleveland at
Baltimore.

Notes: Little’s TD catch was his 55th reception of the season, surpassing
Eric Metcalf for second-most by a Browns rookie. Kevin Johnson has the team’s
rookie record with 66 in 1999. … Cleveland lost three players—LB Titus Brown
(knee), WR Jordan Norwood (concussion) and LB Ben Jacobs (concussion).

Sunday | 2:15 p.m. | University of Phoenix Stadium

TV: Channel 5 (Bill Macatee, Steve Tasker); Radio: 92.3 KTAR-FM (Dave Pasch, Ron Wolfley), 710 KBMB-AM (Gabriel Trujillo, Rolando Cantu).

Noteworthy: The Cardinals and Browns played 40 games between 1950-1969, but since 1974 they’ve met only eight times. Arizona won the previous meeting, 27-21, in 2007. … Larry Fitzgerald was inactive for that ’07 game, and following Sunday’s game, he will have played against every NFL team (except, of course, the Cardinals). Since missing the ’07 game, Fitzgerald has played in 65 consecutive regular-season outings. … Ken Whisenhunt was Cleveland’s special-teams coach in 1999.

The Arizona Republic

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) —
John Skelton
earned redemption in a rematch with San Francisco. The Arizona defense and a spectacular show by
Larry Fitzgerald
made it possible.

Skelton stepped in for the injured
Kevin Kolb
and threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, and the Cardinals rallied to hand the 49ers their third loss of the season,
21-19, on Sunday.

Fitzgerald had seven catches for 149 yards, including a 46-yarder for a touchdown and a 53-yarder to set up the go-ahead score.
He also had a vicious block that helped free
Early Doucet
on a 60-yard touchdown reception.

“That’s Fitz being Fitz,” Skelton said.

Arizona (6-7) has won five of six after a six-game losing streak left them 1-6.

“You guys stuck a fork in us quite a while ago,” coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters after the game. “I think our guys never
let it get to them. How many times during those first weeks did we say that we were going to stay the course and that it was
going to turn for us? We believed it.”

Kolb left the game after a blow to the head on Arizona’s third play. Skelton, benched after throwing three interceptions in
the Cardinals’ 23-7 loss at San Francisco on Nov. 20, had a 60-yard TD pass to Doucet and a 3-yard toss to
Andre Roberts
for what proved to be the winning score early in the fourth quarter.

“You’re only as good as your last play, your last game,” Skelton said. “You kind have to live with that until you get another
opportunity. You never know when that opportunity is. You’ve just got to be ready and make the most of it.”

Skelton was able to overcome two interceptions and a lost fumble in this one.

Arizona sacked
Alex Smith
five times after getting five against Dallas in its 19-13 overtime win over the Cowboys a week earlier. The 49ers (10-3) were
at the Cardinals 4-yard line twice and the 6 once in the second quarter and had to settle for short field goals by
David Akers
each time.

Frank Gore
rushed for 72 yards on 10 carries for the NFC West champion 49ers (10-3), including a 37-yard touchdown run that put San Francisco
ahead 19-7 early in the second half. He passed 1,000 yards rushing for the fifth time in his career, but didn’t do much damage
after that.

Smith completed 18 of 37 for 175 yards and no TDs. He lamented the missed opportunities in the second quarter and the failure
to get close enough for a game-winning field goal at the end.

“We have to be honest with ourselves when we look at the film,” Smith said. “It is not something we can just dismiss and move
on.”

The 49ers were without standout inside linebacker
Patrick Willis
, who missed the second game of his career, because of a right hamstring injury.

On Arizona’s possession following Gore’s big run, Fitzgerald went over the middle and outjumped safety
Dashon Goldson
for the ball, then ran the remaining 20 yards for the score to cut the lead to 19-14 with 9:04 left in the third quarter.

On the play, Fitzgerald passed 1,000 yards for the season for the sixth time in his eight years in the NFL, the last five
in a row.

Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, Fitzgerald took a pass over the middle and ran to the San Francisco 20, a 53-yard
play. On third-and-2 from the 12, Skelton threw a screen pass to Doucet for a 9-yard gain to the 3. Skelton threw to Roberts
on the next play, and the receiver crossed the goal line for the touchdown that gave the Cardinals the lead, 21-19, with 11:50
remaining.

Kolb, in his second start after missing four games with a right turf toe and bruise on the side of his same foot, was hurt
when he faded to pass and was hit by
Justin Smith
as he threw. It was one of two forced fumbles and two sacks for Smith.

San Francisco got the ball on its 43 and, in an 11-play drive that managed 15 yards thanks to three sacks and a couple of
penalties, Akers’ 46-yard field goal made it 3-0.

San Francisco pinned Arizona deep again, and Ted Ginn Jr.’s 52-yard punt return put the 49ers on the Cardinals 4. But Arizona’s
defense, strong all day, held and Akers’ 22-yarder put the 49ers ahead 6-0 with 14:02 left in the half.

Then came the oddest moments of the afternoon.

On third-and-7, Skelton scrambled for a first down but, on a hit by Smith, fumbled the ball and San Francisco recovered at
its 47. The 49ers moved to the Arizona 40, where Akers lined up for a 50-yard field goal attempt. But it was a fake, with
holder
Andy Lee
tossing to backup center
Jonathan Goodwin
, lined up as a tight end, for the apparent score.

The whistle blew mid-play, though, with Arizona challenging the previous play, a pass from
Alex Smith
to
Kyle Williams
. But the replay system wasn’t working, and the play was repeated. This time, Akers’ 50-yard attempt was wide right, his first
miss from 50 and beyond in seven tries this season.

The next play, Skelton threw over the middle to Doucet, and with the help of Fitzgerald’s block, he raced 60 yards for the
score and Arizona led 7-6 with 7:10 left in the half.

“It ended up being a 14-point swing when you look at it,” San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said. “What the officials said
was they challenged the play before we faked the field goal.”

The 49ers responded with a 10-play, 69-yard drive, but again stalled deep in Arizona territory. Akers’ 27-yard field goal
put the 49ers back on top 9-7 with 1:58 to play.

Notes: Fitzgerald is the eighth player in NFL history to top 1,000 yards receiving in six of his first eight seasons. …
For the second week in a row, all five Arizona sacks were by different players. … Goldson left the game with a hip injury
on the play Fitzgerald scored. … San Francisco lost starting left
Joe Staley
in the first quarter with a head injury.

© 2011 STATS LLC

Holding San Francisco to 233 yards and 12 first downs would have seemed unthinkable at times this season. The Cardinals did it Sunday during their 21-19 victory over the 49ers.

They got some breaks, too. Has there ever been a more fortunate Cardinals replay challenge than the one Arizona’s Ken Whisenhunt issued just as the 49ers were executing a fake field goal that might have staked them to a 13-0 lead in the second quarter?

This sequence was a crusher for the 49ers, but great for the rivalry between the teams. Arizona had suffered plenty in this series, losing the previous five. It’s not a rivalry if the same team wins every time.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals could laugh about their good fortune on the replay challenge after claiming their fifth victory in their past six games. Clark Haggans: “Whiz, I saw him in the locker room right before the game started, he was practicing pulling the red flag out of his sock and throwing it on the field. I didn’t know when he was going to use it but his timing was impeccable.” Noted: Teams tend to make their breaks when they play better. Or, at the very least, their breaks matter more when packaged with better play. Foiling the fake field goal was key, but the Cardinals made it relevant by connecting on a 60-yard touchdown pass moments later.

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic points to one key in Larry Fitzgerald’s big game against the 49ers. Boivin: “The last time these teams met, just three weeks ago in San Francisco, Fitzgerald was held to three catches for 41 yards in a 23-7 loss. After laboring over game film, the coaches opted to move Fitzgerald inside, where it would be easier for both the receiver and (John) Skelton to recognize double-coverage, and would help keep the defense off-balance about what routes Fitzgerald would run. It worked.” Noted: Before Sunday, Fitzgerald had 38 receptions for 638 yards and five touchdowns lined up outside. He had 16 receptions for 300 yards and one touchdowns from the slot. He had one reception after lining up in the backfield. Those figures are from ESPN Stats & Information.

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic passes along this comment from Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell: “Everything’s clicking now. (Darnell) Dockettwas just saying earlier that if we had the full offseason to work, we’d probably be (12-1) right now. We’re 6-7 trying to get to 7-7 and hopefully finish 9-7 and give ourselves a chance at making the playoffs.”

Also from McManaman and Somers: Whisenhunt said the Cardinals held out Kevin Kolb as a precaution after Kolb showed concussion-like symptoms. Noted: Teams surely took notice after the Cleveland Browns’ experience with Colt McCoy in the Thursday night game.

More from Somers: Cardinals notes, including one suggesting why Sam Acho gets more playing time than O’Brien Schofield among the team’s outside linebackers.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com offers Whisenhunt’s explanation for kicking an extra point after taking a 21-19 lead early in the fourth quarter. Whisenhunt: “I thought that was early. Certainly I was thinking about it at the end, when we were only leading by two and they had the ball, but our defense bailed us out, so it’s not really a question now, right?”

Also from Urban: The Cardinals trusted their defense and prevailed.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—The Arizona Cardinals have found respectability. A
come-from-behind victory over San Francisco made that official.

That’s saying something for a team that not long ago was 1-6 and had lost
six in a row.

Kevin Kolb, in his second start for Arizona after missing four games with a
right foot injury, took a knee to the head from the 49ers’ Ahmed Brooks on the
third play of the game and left the contest for good. That brought in John
Skelton, who was so bad when he faced the 49ers a month ago he was benched after
throwing three interceptions in three quarters.

This was a different story.

Skelton still had turnover problems—two interceptions and a fumble—but
threw for three touchdowns and led the Cardinals to a 21-19 come-from-behind
victory over the newly crowned NFC West champions.

The Cardinals (6-7) won for the fifth time in six games, with that loss at
San Francisco the only blemish in the span. They also ended San Francisco’s
five-game winning streak in the series.

Arizona’s defense, the strength behind the team’s resurgence, kept the 49ers
out of the end zone in the first half, then the game completely changed in the
second.

San Francisco (10-3) had a 10-2 advantage in first downs in the first half,
Arizona 10-2 in the second. The 49ers had a 155-97 edge in yards in the first
half, Arizona dominated the second 228-78.

“We started converting third downs. That’s what it comes down to,
sustaining drives,” Skelton said. “Our defense was on the field the entire
first half, it seemed like.”

Not that the second half started that well for Arizona.

Frank Gore’s 37-yard touchdown run 2 1/2 minutes into the third quarter put San
Francisco up 19-7, but the Cardinals didn’t see much more of the big running
back after that.

The loss dropped San Francisco (10-3) into a tie with New Orleans for the
second-best record in the conference. The top two teams earn a first-round bye.

“We have to be honest with ourselves when we look at the film,”
quarterback Alex Smith said. “It is not something we can just dismiss and move
on. We are into December now and we have to continue to get better. We just
can’t dismiss this. `’

Larry Fitzgerald had seven catches for 149 yards, including a 46-yarder for
a touchdown and a 53-yarder to set up the go-ahead score. It was his 30th career
100-yard receiving effort. He also had a vicious block that helped free Early
Doucet on a 60-yard touchdown reception.

“That’s Fitz being Fitz,” Skelton said.

San Francisco had the ball inside the Arizona 10 three times in the second
quarter and came away with only field goals. They also had third-and-1 and then
fourth-and-1 at the San Francisco 41 with about two minutes to go.

In both cases, passes fell incomplete, the last one after Smith scrambled
all over half the field before throwing.

“If you score touchdowns down there, a different game,” Smith said. “The
end of the game was disappointing, as well. Having a chance to win it and don’t
get it done.”

It was the latest in a series of strong performances by an Arizona defense
that has allowed six touchdowns in six games.

“I’m proud of us. I’m proud of our team that stuck together not complaining
about anything,” defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said.

Arizona sacked Smith five times after getting five against Dallas in its
19-13 overtime win over the Cowboys a week earlier. The loss ended a five-game
49ers winning streak in the series.

“I thought we were in position to win this football game really at all
times during the game,” San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said. “We didn’t get
it done and we are disappointed about that. We look forward to seeing how our
team responds to some adversity. We haven’t had a lot of it this year.”

Frank Gore rushed for 72 yards on 10 carries for the NFC West champion
49ers, including a 37-yard touchdown run that put San Francisco ahead 19-7 early
in the second half. He broke 1,000 yards rushing for the fifth time in his
career, but didn’t do much damage after that.

Smith completed 18 of 37 for 175 yards and no TDs.

The 49ers were without standout inside linebacker Patrick Willis, who missed
the second game of his career because of a right hamstring injury.

Still, the 49ers’ defenders felt they had failed in areas where they had
succeeded almost always this year.

“As a secondary, we felt like it was really on our shoulders and we lost
this football game collectively,” safety Donte Whitner said. “It doesn’t
matter what the offense does, if they can’t get it in, all we need are field
goals. We felt like we let the team down and we’re going to go back to the
drawing board and we’ll be ready.”

The oddest moment of the game came in the second quarter.

On third-and-7, Skelton scrambled for a first down but, on a hit by Smith,
fumbled the ball and San Francisco recovered at its 47. The 49ers moved to the
Arizona 32, where Akers lined up for a 50-yard field goal attempt. But it was a
fake, with holder Andy Lee tossing to backup center Jonathan Goodwin, lined up
as a tight end, for the apparent score.

The whistle blew midplay, though, with Arizona challenging the previous
play, a pass from Smith to Kyle Williams. But the replay system wasn’t working
so the play had to be repeated. This time, Akers’ kick was wide right.

“Luckily, we used our `fake field goal red flag challenge’ that stopped
that one,” Whisenhunt said.

The next play, Skelton threw over the middle to Doucet, and with the help of
Fitzgerald’s block, he raced 60 yards for the score and Arizona led 7-6 with
7:10 left in the half.

“It ended up being a 14-point swing when you look at it,” Harbaugh said.

Notes: Fitzgerald is the eighth player in NFL history to top 1,000 yards
receiving in six of his first eight seasons. … For the second week in a row,
all five Arizona sacks were by different players. … Dashon Goldson left the
game with a hip injury on the play Fitzgerald scored. … San Francisco lost
starting left Joe Staley in the first quarter with a head injury.

A week after clinching the NFC West title, the San Francisco
49ers had trouble holding off the Arizona Cardinals’ second-half
rally.

The 49ers blew a 12-point second-half lead and lost to the
Arizona Cardinals 21-19, just their third defeat of the season and
first against a team that currently has a losing record.

The loss dropped San Francisco (10-3) into a tie with New
Orleans for the second-best record in the conference. The top two
teams earn a first-round bye.

“We have to be honest with ourselves when we look at the film,”
quarterback Alex Smith said. “It is not something we can just
dismiss and move on. We are into December now and we have to
continue to get better. We just can’t dismiss this. `’

John Skelton stepped in for the injured Kevin Kolb and threw for
282 yards and three touchdowns for Arizona (6-7).

Larry Fitzgerald had seven catches for 149 yards, including a
46-yarder for a touchdown and a 53-yarder to set up the go-ahead
score. He also had a vicious block that helped free Early Doucet on
a 60-yard touchdown reception.

“That’s Fitz being Fitz,” Skelton said.

Arizona has won five of six, with the only loss being at San
Francisco on Oct. 20.

Kolb left the game after a blow to the head on Arizona’s third
play. Skelton, benched after throwing three interceptions in the
Cardinals’ 23-7 loss at San Francisco on Nov. 20, had a 60-yard TD
pass to Doucet and a 3-yard toss to Andre Roberts for what proved
to be the winning score early in the fourth quarter.

Skelton was able to overcome two interceptions and a lost fumble
on Sunday.

San Francisco had the ball inside the Arizona 10-yard three
times in the second quarter and came away with only field goals.
They also had the ball third-and-1, then fourth-and-1, at the San
Francisco 41 with about two minutes to go.

In both cases, passes fell incomplete, the last one after Smith
scrambled all over half the field before throwing.

“If you score touchdowns down there, a different game,” Smith
said. “The end of the game was disappointing as well. Having a
chance to win it and don’t get it done.”

Arizona sacked Smith five times after getting five against
Dallas in its 19-13 overtime win over the Cowboys a week earlier.
The loss ended a five-game 49ers winning streak in the series.

“I thought we were in position to win this football game really
at all times during the game,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “We didn’t
get it done and we are disappointed about that. We look forward to
seeing how our team responds to some adversity. We haven’t had a
lot of it this year.”

Frank Gore rushed for 72 yards on 10 carries for the NFC West
champion 49ers, including a 37-yard touchdown run that put San
Francisco ahead 19-7 early in the second half. He broke 1,000 yards
rushing for the fifth time in his career, but didn’t do much damage
after that.

Smith completed 18 of 37 for 175 yards and no TDs.

The 49ers were without standout inside linebacker Patrick
Willis, who missed the second game of his career, because of a
right hamstring injury.

Still, the 49ers’ defensive players felt they had failed in
areas where they had succeeded almost always this year.

“As a secondary, we felt like it was really on our shoulders and
we lost this football game collectively,” safety Donte Whitner
said. “It doesn’t matter what the offense does, if they can’t get
it in, all we need are field goals. We felt like we let the team
down and we’re going to go back to the drawing board and we’ll be
ready.”

Kolb, in his second start after missing four games with a right
turf toe and bruise on the side of his same foot, was hurt when he
faded to pass and was hit by Justin Smith as he threw. It was one
of two forced fumbles and two sacks for Smith.

The oddest moments of the game came in the second quarter with
San Francisco leading 6-0.

On third-and-7, Skelton scrambled for a first down but, on a hit
by Smith, fumbled the ball and San Francisco recovered at its 47.
The 49ers moved to the Arizona 40, where Akers lined up for a
50-yard field goal attempt. But it was a fake, with holder Andy Lee
tossing to backup center Jonathan Goodwin, lined up as a tight end,
for the apparent score.

The whistle blew mid-play, though, with Arizona challenging the
previous play, a pass from Alex Smith to Kyle Williams. But the
replay system wasn’t working, and the play had to be repeated. This
time, Akers’ 50-yard attempt was wide right, his first miss from 50
and beyond in seven tries this season.

The next play, Skelton threw over the middle to Doucet, and with
the help of Fitzgerald’s block, he raced 60 yards for the score and
Arizona led 7-6 with 7:10 left in the half.

The 49ers responded with a 10-play, 69-yard drive, but again
stalled deep in Arizona territory. Akers’ 27-yard field goal put
the 49ers back on top 9-7 with 1:58 to play.

Notes: Fitzgerald is the eighth player in NFL history to top
1,000 yards receiving in six of his first eight seasons. … For
the second week in a row, all five Arizona sacks were by different
players. … Dashon Goldson left the game with a hip injury on the
play Fitzgerald scored. … San Francisco lost starting left Joe
Staley in the first quarter with a head injury.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) —
John Skelton
earned redemption in a rematch with San Francisco. The Arizona defense and a spectacular show by
Larry Fitzgerald
made it possible.

Skelton stepped in for the injured
Kevin Kolb
and threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, and the Cardinals rallied to hand the 49ers their third loss of the season,
21-19, on Sunday.

Fitzgerald had seven catches for 149 yards, including a 46-yarder for a touchdown and a 53-yarder to set up the go-ahead score.
He also had a vicious block that helped free
Early Doucet
on a 60-yard touchdown reception.

“That’s Fitz being Fitz,” Skelton said.

Arizona (6-7) has won five of six after a six-game losing streak left them 1-6.

“You guys stuck a fork in us quite a while ago,” coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters after the game. “I think our guys never
let it get to them. How many times during those first weeks did we say that we were going to stay the course and that it was
going to turn for us? We believed it.”

Kolb left the game after a blow to the head on Arizona’s third play. Skelton, benched after throwing three interceptions in
the Cardinals’ 23-7 loss at San Francisco on Nov. 20, had a 60-yard TD pass to Doucet and a 3-yard toss to
Andre Roberts
for what proved to be the winning score early in the fourth quarter.

“You’re only as good as your last play, your last game,” Skelton said. “You kind have to live with that until you get another
opportunity. You never know when that opportunity is. You’ve just got to be ready and make the most of it.”

Skelton was able to overcome two interceptions and a lost fumble in this one.

Arizona sacked
Alex Smith
five times after getting five against Dallas in its 19-13 overtime win over the Cowboys a week earlier. The 49ers (10-3) were
at the Cardinals 4-yard line twice and the 6 once in the second quarter and had to settle for short field goals by
David Akers
each time.

Frank Gore
rushed for 72 yards on 10 carries for the NFC West champion 49ers (10-3), including a 37-yard touchdown run that put San Francisco
ahead 19-7 early in the second half. He passed 1,000 yards rushing for the fifth time in his career, but didn’t do much damage
after that.

Smith completed 18 of 37 for 175 yards and no TDs. He lamented the missed opportunities in the second quarter and the failure
to get close enough for a game-winning field goal at the end.

“We have to be honest with ourselves when we look at the film,” Smith said. “It is not something we can just dismiss and move
on.”

The 49ers were without standout inside linebacker
Patrick Willis
, who missed the second game of his career, because of a right hamstring injury.

On Arizona’s possession following Gore’s big run, Fitzgerald went over the middle and outjumped safety
Dashon Goldson
for the ball, then ran the remaining 20 yards for the score to cut the lead to 19-14 with 9:04 left in the third quarter.

On the play, Fitzgerald passed 1,000 yards for the season for the sixth time in his eight years in the NFL, the last five
in a row.

Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, Fitzgerald took a pass over the middle and ran to the San Francisco 20, a 53-yard
play. On third-and-2 from the 12, Skelton threw a screen pass to Doucet for a 9-yard gain to the 3. Skelton threw to Roberts
on the next play, and the receiver crossed the goal line for the touchdown that gave the Cardinals the lead, 21-19, with 11:50
remaining.

Kolb, in his second start after missing four games with a right turf toe and bruise on the side of his same foot, was hurt
when he faded to pass and was hit by
Justin Smith
as he threw. It was one of two forced fumbles and two sacks for Smith.

San Francisco got the ball on its 43 and, in an 11-play drive that managed 15 yards thanks to three sacks and a couple of
penalties, Akers’ 46-yard field goal made it 3-0.

San Francisco pinned Arizona deep again, and Ted Ginn Jr.’s 52-yard punt return put the 49ers on the Cardinals 4. But Arizona’s
defense, strong all day, held and Akers’ 22-yarder put the 49ers ahead 6-0 with 14:02 left in the half.

Then came the oddest moments of the afternoon.

On third-and-7, Skelton scrambled for a first down but, on a hit by Smith, fumbled the ball and San Francisco recovered at
its 47. The 49ers moved to the Arizona 40, where Akers lined up for a 50-yard field goal attempt. But it was a fake, with
holder
Andy Lee
tossing to backup center
Jonathan Goodwin
, lined up as a tight end, for the apparent score.

The whistle blew mid-play, though, with Arizona challenging the previous play, a pass from
Alex Smith
to
Kyle Williams
. But the replay system wasn’t working, and the play was repeated. This time, Akers’ 50-yard attempt was wide right, his first
miss from 50 and beyond in seven tries this season.

The next play, Skelton threw over the middle to Doucet, and with the help of Fitzgerald’s block, he raced 60 yards for the
score and Arizona led 7-6 with 7:10 left in the half.

“It ended up being a 14-point swing when you look at it,” San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said. “What the officials said
was they challenged the play before we faked the field goal.”

The 49ers responded with a 10-play, 69-yard drive, but again stalled deep in Arizona territory. Akers’ 27-yard field goal
put the 49ers back on top 9-7 with 1:58 to play.

Notes: Fitzgerald is the eighth player in NFL history to top 1,000 yards receiving in six of his first eight seasons. …
For the second week in a row, all five Arizona sacks were by different players. … Goldson left the game with a hip injury
on the play Fitzgerald scored. … San Francisco lost starting left
Joe Staley
in the first quarter with a head injury.

© 2011 STATS LLC

Arizona Cardinals update:

Larry Fitzgerald collects passes, yards, touchdowns and information. The Cardinals receiver constantly surprises with how much he knows when it comes to football, the NFL and the Cardinals.

The latest example came last Sunday in St. Louis. The Cardinals were ahead, 23-20, when they made a first down to put the game away with fewer than two minutes remaining.

Fitzgerald knew that running back Beanie Wells had 214 yards rushing.

How? That was easy. “I looked up at the (scoreboard) at the stats they have for fantasy players,” Fitzgerald said. (That’s a new thing in stadiums this year).

But Fitzgerald also knew that the Cardinals rushing record for a single game was 214 yards, held by LeShon Johnson. How?

“I know all the team records,” he said.

So when the Cardinals sent their “victory formation” personnel on to the field, Fitzgerald immediately reacted. He told coach Ken Whisenhunt that Wells was 1 yard short of breaking the record.

Turns out, Cardinals vice president of media relations Mark Dalton already had informed Whisenhunt that Wells had 214 yards. Whisenhunt was deciding if having Wells go for the record was worth the risk of a bungled snap, a fumble or someone getting injured.

A few seconds later, Fitzgerald came over again, just to remind everyone that Wells could have a record.

The Cardinals took a delay of game penalty in order to get the right personnel on the field, then Wells carried one last time for 14 yards, finishing with the franchise record of 228.

This is not an isolated anecdote.

When Fitzgerald was named the NFC’s offensive player of the week last month, he obviously knew it was the first time he won the award. But he also guessed correctly that Roy Green was the last Cardinals receiver to win it.

Receivers don’t win that award much, Fitzgerald said, because if they had a big day, it’s likely that the quarterback did, too. So the quarterback usually wins it.

Fitzgerald has all this stuff rolling around in his head. Two weeks ago, he caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Rich Bartel in San Francisco. Fitzgerald immediately gave the ball to Bartel. He knew it was Bartel’s first touchdown pass in the NFL; no one had to tell him.

He did the same thing two years ago for Brian St. Pierre.

Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 05:40 PM

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Read More: Larry Fitzgerald (WR – ARI), John Skelton (QB – ARI), Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers

The Arizona Cardinals did not produce much on offense this week. They managed only 229 yards of offense and about half of them came with the 49ers already up 23-0 and having the game well in hand. John Skelton struggled mightily and completed only one of every three passes he attempted.

Thus, you’d expect that Larry Fitzgerald wouldn’t have a great afternoon. Indeed, Skelton only found Fitzgerald twice on the day, and one of those catches were for zero yards. Still, it managed to be serviceable when Fitzgerald logged the only touchdown in garbage time as Richard Bartel took over at quarterback, and he managed to slip between two Niners defenders into the Cardinals WR’s hands. So if you had the Cardinals WR, it turned out to be an okay day, with three receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Fitzgerald is still a must start regardless for the Cardinals because the QBs do continue to target him often.

For more on Fitzgerald and the Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds.

Larry Fitzgerald asks coaches and teammates. He asks opponents, relatives, friends, acquaintances and anyone else he thinks knows something about football.

---

Profile: Larry Fitzgerald

---

What are you seeing when you watch me?

It’s a question motivated by desire, not vanity.

Sure, Fitzgerald wants his eye-black applied just so, the braids flowing out of the back of the helmet to look just right, the Cardinals uniform to fit perfectly. But a mirror can tell him if those things are in order.

What he wants to know from you, if you know football, is how he can improve.

“I’m always learning,” he says. “That’s one thing that never stops for me. I’m always learning and trying to get a competitive advantage any time I can.”

Receivers coach John McNulty took the Cardinals job Feb. 18, 2009. That day, he received a call from a number he didn’t recognize, one in the 612 area code.

That’s Minneapolis. McNulty didn’t recognize the number.

“I let it ring a couple of times,” McNulty says. “Finally, I picked it up and it was Larry. He basically wanted to say, ‘Let me know whatever you see, whatever you want to work on.’ “

McNulty has heard that question from Fitzgerald thousands of times since, as have teammates and friends across the league. And there are lots of friends. The contacts list in Fitzgerald’s phone includes everybody who is anybody in the NFL.

“Most of the guys I’ve been around at this level, a lot of times they go on auto-pilot or they don’t want to change anything,” McNulty says. “They don’t want to hear about anything new, they just want to do their thing. This guy is totally different than anybody I’ve been around.”

Pulling knowledge

Fitzgerald gathers information like an investigative reporter, and no one knows more about what other receivers are doing.

Every week, the team’s video staff, led by Rob Brakel, loads “cut-ups” of some of the NFL’s elite receivers on to Fitzgerald’s iPad.

Fitzgerald starts watching on Monday afternoons, usually when his son, Devin, is taking a nap. He’ll finish Monday night, after Devin’s gone to sleep.

At Fitzgerald’s long fingertips, he can watch every pass thrown the previous Sunday to Calvin Johnson (Lions), Andre Johnson (Texans), Reggie Wayne (Colts), Greg Jennings (Packers), Brandon Marshall (Dolphins), Vincent Jackson (Chargers) and Miles Austin and Dez Bryant of the Cowboys.

“I watch all of New England because I like a lot of their concepts,” Fitzgerald says, “and Wes Welker runs some really good routes inside. I’ll watch Steve Smith in Carolina. And in Atlanta, Julio Jones and Roddy White.”

To illustrate, Fitzgerald grabs the iPad off his locker shelf and quickly brings a Lions game to the screen. He points to the zone defense Johnson is facing. The cornerback is reading the first receiver, ready to hand him off to the safety behind, then the corner waits to see if a secondary receiver comes in his zone.

Fitzgerald narrates: “On this play here, Calvin (Johnson) is free to inside or outside. Then you want to break flat across the safety’s face, then you can be out the back door. That’s what the route is.”

Only Johnson does something that intrigues Fitzgerald. He makes his cut two steps earlier than most other receivers on that route. That way, he is farther from the safety.

Fitzgerald marvels at what the simple adjustment can do.

“You get leverage there on the safety and if you can break a tackle, you turn it into a monster play,” he said.

Taking the lead

Fitzgerald’s brain is full of post-it notes like this. Some have to do with football; some don’t. If he asks someone a question about their family, it’s more than just politeness. He wants to know, and he’s not likely to forget it.

Fitzgerald has been this way since the Cardinals drafted him third overall in 2004. But in his first few NFL years, he was as solitary as a satellite. He contributed but he wasn’t connected. He didn’t view it as his job to lead others.

That changed near the end of the 2007 season, he says. The Cardinals won their final two games to finish 8-8, their best record in almost a decade. That’s a modest accomplishment, but Fitzgerald’s eyes opened like they do when a pass is headed his direction.

“It really showed me that when a team is playing together, when they’re all on the same page, that great things can happen,” he said. “We came into the next year, and that’s where I felt like I had my transformation, that ‘It’s bigger than you.’ “

The individual rewards are still important to Fitzgerald. He takes pride in the eight-year contract worth a possible $120 million he signed before the season. He wants 90 or so receptions, 1,400 yards and at least 10 touchdowns every season. He has a great desire to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day.

He wants the Cardinals to be good, not eating caviar one year and garbage the next, to paraphrase a comment he made a year ago.

Fitzgerald enjoys performances such as last week’s, when he caught seven passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. When he made a miraculous over-the-head grab for a gain of 37 yards, setting up the winning score against the Eagles. He also caught two passes that had been deflected, including one of his touchdowns.

But those plays won’t appear on his iPad anytime soon.

“Now is not the time to reflect,” he says. “I’m in the midst of my career, and I’m always trying to find ways to improve.

“When I’m done playing and Devin’s in high school and he’s telling me how much better he is than me, I’m going to pull out the tape and show him then.”

He’ll have one question for his son: “How did I look?”

By Avinash Kunnath

– Newsdesk contributor

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Nov 17, 2011 – The Arizona Cardinals have struggled through the 2011 season, and no one on either side of the football has really stood out. Well, except for one.

It should be no surprise the Cardinals only have one man in contention right now to make it to the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl. It should be no surprise that his identity is one Larry Fitzgerald, perhaps still one of the most talented recievers in the NFL today. Fitzgerald is currently fourth among all receivers in all votes in the NFC, trailing Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions, Greg Jennings of the Green Bay Packers, and Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers.

Unfortunately Fitzgerald is stuck in a very difficult position, as he has two average quarterbacks in Kevin Kolb and John Skelton throwing to him. Still, the Cardinals receiver is putting up impressive numbers regardless, racking up 45 catches and 792 yards plus five touchdowns despite not being in the most ideal passing offense.

Check out the potential Pro Bowl players from the NFC West by clicking here. To discuss Fitzgerald and the Cardinals, hit up Revenge of the Birds.

Read More: Larry Fitzgerald (WR – ARI), Arizona Cardinals

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