There’s a first time for everything: Larry Fitzgerald spikes the ball

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Act like you’ve been there before.

You’ve heard that saying countless times when it comes to post-touchdown celebrations in the NFL.

Some, in fact most, it seems, choose elaborate hey-look-at-me-type gyrations after finding the end zone. That’s one of the reasons why Larry Fitzgerald stands out.

Only six receivers in the history of the NFL have scored more touchdowns than Fitzgerald (he scored his 112th Sunday), yet it’s always a flip of the ball to the official and a jog off the field.

That’s why what happened after Fitzgerald caught a two-point conversion pass from Josh Rosen late in the game, thousands said “huh?”

After crossing the goal line, the 15-year veteran full-on Gronk-spiked the ball into the turf at State Farm Stadium.

A Fitz spike?!?!@LarryFitzgerald said that’s the first he could remember spiking the ball. 😂 pic.twitter.com/n0EFWK2TTa

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 29, 2018

“I never spiked a football before in my life,” Fitzgerald explained after the Cardinals’ 18-15 win. “I was a little frustrated, I had a heavy heart today. My oldest son Devin didn’t want to come to the game today, so my feelings were a little hurt.

“I was carrying that around all day, so when I got in there, I let it all out.”

Fitzgerald then turned the explanation for his emotion into an apology.

“To all the kids that were watching, I’m sorry, I set a bad example today,” he said with a smile.

His teammates didn’t seem to mind.

“That’s cocky Larry right there,” left tackle D.J. Humphries said. “That’s a fresh sighting. I like it, though. I haven’t seen that in 15 years. I was like, ‘Nobody has seen that Larry.’ I was really excited to see it.

“Then to watch him dog somebody on the goal line, I told you he doesn’t need a gold jacket, he needs a gold suit.”

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