NFL game is back in a big way
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 09/15/2011
PHOENIX — Thursday night I was in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the smallest community in professional sports to witness the NFL kickoff to the 2011 season — a season that for a long time appeared to be in jeopardy.
Something about an NFL lockout!
The lockout was avoided with a 10-year CBA. I saw the defending Super Bowl Champion Packers stop the Super Bowl XLIV Champion New Orleans Saints at the goal line on the game’s final play to preserve a thrilling 42-34 win.
The game featured the last two Super Bowl game-winning teams and MVPs Aaron Rodgers vs. Drew Brees. Rodgers was surgical, completing 27 of 35 passes for 312 yards and three TDs.
Brees, who is the only quarterback in league history to throw for 22,918 yards in a five-year span, threw for 419 yards and three TDs in losing.
The Packers were just a little bit better defensively, twice stopping the Saints in the red zone at the seven and one yard lines, limiting the Saints to just 81 yards rushing, and sacking Brees three times for 23 yards.
Better balance, plus rookie Randall Cobb’s two touchdowns including a record-tying kickoff return of 108 yards, confirmed the Packers, winners of 13 NFL Championships, have plans on repeating.
Cardinals outplay Panthers
Sunday, September 11 marked the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. All across the USA, ceremonies in remembrance honored those who lost their lives.
On that somber occasion I witnessed the Carolina vs. Arizona game featuring Cam Newton, the Heisman Trophy winning-National Championship quarterback and NFL number-one overall pick’s debut.
Newton started with a bang, throwing for 422 yards and accounting for three touchdowns. He’s the first QB in NFL history to throw for 422 yards in his first game.
The Cardinals won the game 28-21, however, thanks to a spectacular fourth-quarter 89-yard punt return by rookie number-one pick of the Cardinals Patrick Peterson. Kevin Kolb threw for 309 yards and two TDs in his first game as the Cardinals’ new quarterback.
Running back Beanie Wells ran 18 times for 90 yards. When Wells gets 10 carries or more in a game, the Cardinals are 13-3.
Vikings re-sign Peterson
The Vikings have re-signed four-time Pro Bowl star running back Adrian Peterson to a seven-year contract extension for $96 million with $32 million guaranteed.
His contract could exceed $100 million if Peterson hits his contract escalators.
Peterson ran for an NFL record 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers in his rookie season.
Vikings lose
Sunday the Vikings lost 24-17 at San Diego. Peterson ran 16 times for 98 yards. The Vikings blew a 17-7 halftime lead and had nine penalties for 78 yards.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb played poorly in his first game, throwing for only 39 yards.
“Its embarrassing to have the numbers that we had, whatever we had,” McNabb said. McNabb and the Vikings were awful in the second half, accounting for only 26 yards total offense on 17 plays.
McNabb was just 7-15 for a mere 39 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Vikings had the ball for just 22 minutes in the game for 187 total yards.
This week the Vikings, who are now already one game behind Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago in the division because they all won, will play host to Tampa Bay at high noon Sunday.
I said it on Twitter
This was the third time Gophers Coach Jerry Kill has suffered a seizure in an NCAA game. The 90-degree heat was likely a factor, with field turf temp at over 100 degrees.
Why do the lights shine so bright in Las Vegas? Because most people lose.
NFL favorites New England 13/2, Green Bay 7/1, Philadelphia 7/1 — good luck. Third time is a charm?
Twice former Vikings defensive coordinators have left the Vikings to become head coaches and led team to win Super Bowls — Tony Dungy, Indianapolis, and Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh.
Leslie Frazier, ex-defensive coordinator, did not get away. Frazier leads Vikes to Super Bowl win.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday-Friday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2), and you can follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
