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With the NFL Pro Bowl approaching, the Arizona Cardinals' pro bowlers are participating in practices in Hawaii throughout the week.

Patrick Peterson, Daryl Washington and Larry Fitzgerald, as expected, are facing questions in regards to their new head coach and their 2012 season gone bad.

"For me and my team, it wasn't a good year to be quite honest with you," Fitzgerald told NFL Network. "We're a long way from where we need to be, (and) I'm a long way from where I know I can be. So we're excited about the new season."

Fitzgerald also touched on the firing of the staff that worked with him over the last six seasons -- all of which ended in Pro Bowl appearances.

"It's a tough business," Fitzgerald said. "We lost some good coaches, but that's part of the business."

The hiring of new head coach Bruce Arians was a topic discussed with Fitzgerald for the first time on camera, as he has been on his annual vacationing rendezvous.

"I think he's a phenomenal coach," Fitzgerald said. "I got a chance to talk to him and met with him a couple times. He's really excited. He's offensive minded. Look at what he was able to accomplish in Indy with everything that transpired there that season, with a rookie quarterback (and) coach Pagano being sick. He had a lot of adversity to overcome and he was able to keep that team together."

With this being Fitzgerald's seventh Pro Bowl appearance -- most by any offensive Cardinal in franchise history --, he is taking this year's the most serious, as the Pro Bowl has been harshly criticized of the lackluster play by its athletes. The threat of the Pro Bowl leaving Hawaii -- or even cancelled -- is closer now than ever, and the players realize that.

"It's a privilege to be here among some of the great players in our league," Fitzgerald said. "We understand this is a big game, a big year. We want to keep it hear in Hawaii. We love it (here)."

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    mtj8nau wrote...
    Let's be honest...
    All you homers can deny all you want but it was an absolute SHAM that Fitzgerald was named a Pro Bowler, replacement for injury or not. 71 receptions, 798 yards, and 4 touchdowns? I mean that is beyond the definition of mediocre. I understand he had a god-awful qb situation and that reflected in his stats but at the end of the day stats should determine who should and who shouldn't (Fitz) make the Pro Bowl.
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    DisgustedD wrote...
    Not going to
    disagree with you but the Pro Bowl is just that. It's a joke of game where it is more like 2-hand touch football not tackle at the highest level.
  • Abuse
    cardsfan1225 wrote...
    For the Fans
    Every one at the pro bowl was voted in by the FANS, and as every year, players who are alternates are included due to injuries, other commitments, etc of the other players. This is not any different. They may not have been the first choice, but, they still deserve the accolades. Ask any player in the league, and you will NOT find one player who will call Larry Fitzgerald a "SHAM" !! Way to go...Larry, Patrick and Daryl!
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    Joe1013e wrote...
    The Pro Bowl?
    Is that game still around?
  • Abuse
    sayswho wrote...
    well mtj8nau,
    I hate to , but I agree. But like ALL all star games, it is a popularity contest. While I love Fitz, I don't think the numbers are there this year.
  • Abuse
    elauden wrote...
    Pro Bowling with Fitz
    So let me preface this my saying there is about as much defense played in the Pro Bowl as there are hot chicks in a bowling alley, but I'll bet Fitz catches 8-10 passes for 100+ yards and 3 TDs for the NFC squad. Fitz wants to show his NFL brethren, that despite average WR numbers this past season, especially by his standards, that No. 11 is still one of the top WRs in the league.
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