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AP: 1ca97260-dbfc-4873-8a4d-d5021c92d2cd
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, left, pats the shoulder of New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. The Patriots lost 20-18 for their first regular season home loss since 2001. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Larry Fitzgerald is the best player the Arizona Cardinals have on the offensive side of the ball, and one of the top receivers in the entire NFL.

So, it should not be surprising that there is some concern over the team's inability to get the ball into Number 11's hands.

Through two games, Fitzgerald has just five catches for 67 yards. He was targeted with five passes in Sunday's win over New England, but was only able to make one catch for four yards.

"Coach Belichick is the best coach in history for a reason," Fitzgerald said when asked about the Patriots gearing their defense towards stopping him. "He's done it a long time and done a masterful job throughout his career. He does a great job defensively, he's a wonderful coach and his team's really good."

The Cardinals winning the game certainly makes Fitzgerald's off day easier to stomach, as in the end that is the only thing that matters.

"It wasn't by any stretch of the imagination a good day for us," Fitzgerald said of the offense's performance. "We have to do a better job. But guys stepped up in timely situations and made plays."

Fitzgerald knows the Cardinals wasted opportunities to score touchdowns, having to settle for a couple field goals early in the game.

"We've got to do a better job of capitalizing on opportunities," he said.

However, it's tough to envision the Cardinals scoring many points and winning too many games in which they fail to get the ball into their best player's hands.

"Yeah real close," the receiver said of nearly getting the ball Sunday. "That's not good enough right now though. It doesn't help talking about it now on Monday.

"We've got to be able to execute it when we have our opportunities."

From here it will be up to the Cardinals coaching staff to find those opportunities for Fitzgerald. Sure, teams can gameplan their defenses towards stopping the Pro Bowler, but it is still imperative the team finds some way to get him the ball.

Until then, though, Fitz is nothing but a high-priced decoy for a team that is struggling to find its way on offense. You won't hear the receiver complaining about that role, rather he just knows he won't be able to waste the chances he does get.

"I'll get my opportunities, and when they come I just have to make my plays," he said.

Arizona Sports' Kyndra de St. Aubin contributed to this report

6 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    redbread wrote...
    Get Fitz the darn BALL!!!!
    a screen, pass out in the flat, or even go deep with double coverage. It's not like Fitz cant out jump everyone who covers him. GET HIM THE BALL!!! Also what the crap is the deal with Floyd who was suppose to take double coverage away! Looks like Roberts is the man that going to hold it down. Housler, toughen up! You could be one of the best deep threat tight ends in the league when you realize you have to play when your sore.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    its ku bro
    Kolb can't throw a ball between tight coverage to save his life. Until they can run the ball good enough to pause the safeties on play-action to give fitz open field back there, I don't see Fitz being a force for this team.
  • Abuse
    Fiddytucker wrote...
    Floyd
    Where is Floyd? I thought I was a well informed Cards fan but I find myself wondering, what happened to our #1 draft pick!
  • Abuse
    KDub&ADub1324 wrote...
    Remember,
    It's only week 2. Fitz will get his catches. Relax. AZ is winning. Team comes first. But regardless, he is right. Offense needs to improve. However, I trust that Fitz would prefer the team wins when he has only one catch, than lose and have ten catches
  • Abuse
    Steve L. wrote...
    HOF
    Fitz is going to be a Hall of Fame receiver. The offense will come around as long as the O-line can protect Kolb. If this was the 5th game and Fitz wasn't seeing his share of passes then I would say that the offense isn't being maximized.
  • Abuse
    Marauder26 wrote...
    Fitz...
    will get his open looks when other teams realize that the Cards have A LOT of good receivers that Kolb and/or Skelton can get the ball to. So far, they've been doing an okay, if not decent, job of doing just that. I give it another week or two, then Fitz will bust some secondary wide open.
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