Sports
Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald has faith in Marvin Harrison Jr, Kyler Murray despite ‘tough’ division odds
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
It’s been a while since the Arizona Cardinals were a legitimate NFL threat, having last made the playoffs in 2021.
After that season, the Cardinals went 4-13 in back-to-back seasons before finally improving to 8-9 for the 2024 NFL season, and they now sit at 2-2.
Larry Fitzgerald retired after the 2020 season, and three years later, the organization selected Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick. When the Hall of Famer’s son came out of college, it was widely expected that if anyone were to replicate Fitzgerald’s Pro Bowl numbers, it would be Harrison.
But it has not gone as planned.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 18) of the Arizona Cardinals runs off the field with Kyler Murray (No. 1) after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. (Norm Hall/Getty Images)
In 21 games played, he’s eclipsed the 100-yard mark just twice. He does have a knack for the end zone, though, averaging a touchdown in just about every other game, and Fitzgerald thinks he will be – and is – just fine.
“When he was at Ohio State, you know, he had a plethora of first-round picks that were with him there, so he didn’t have to carry the water all the time by himself. He was the best player, but he also had a really strong supporting cast. And, you know, he came out and was kind of just thrust into the number one spot, right?” Fitzgerald told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
“I don’t think by any stretch of the imagination he’s had a bad start. But if you’re thinking about [Brian] Thomas in Jacksonville and [Malik] Nabers in New York, you’re comparing him to some of the other guys, I think those comparisons start to come alive.”
The noise was loud after Harrison struggled early last week, but he ultimately finished with six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in a tight 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
“I’m really excited about what he’s gonna do. It would be one thing if you were telling me he couldn’t run, he couldn’t get off the press, or he wasn’t quick enough, or he wasn’t strong enough. You’re talking about catching a football, right? Like, you can improve that and get better with that through repetition. He didn’t struggle with it at Ohio State or in high school, it’s more just getting over the mental hurdle. Physically, the dude is a beast.”
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 18) walks off the field after an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 28, 2024, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. (Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
JAY CUTLER REPORTS TO JAIL TO SERVE SENTENCE FOR MISDEMEANOR DUI
Those same aforementioned comparisons can be said for Kyler Murray, who was the first overall pick in 2019. But, like Harrison, Fitzgerald is happy with what he’s seen out of his own former quarterback.
“I think he’s gotten a lot better. This being his seventh year, he’s definitely taken another step. He’s made some wonderful throws. He makes some great throws, and I just want to see him continue to take those next steps as the leader of the organization,” Fitzgerald said.
“You’re always comparing him to other people in similar situations. But look at the numbers, when he’s healthy, he produces. Is it the same as Justin Herbert or Joe Burrow or Josh Allen? No, but he’s not a bum, and he’s producing. He’s able to get the team wins and keep them in competitive games. So I wouldn’t say he’s far off. I mean, he’s got the skill set, that dude is fast as heck, he processes information quickly, he can throw the deep ball, he can throw the intermediate ball, he can throw it left, throw it right. I mean, the guy is just super skilled, and I think we are just kind of waiting for that next step into the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the league.”
The Cards have a get-right game against the 0-4 Tennessee Titans, and one can’t blame Fitzgerald for throwing a few bucks on his former team this weekend. Fitzgerald is a partner with DraftKings to spread the word about responsible gaming.
“I’ve been a big DraftKings fan for a very long time, and as gambling continues to grow, it’s only gonna become more prevalent. And it’s great that it’s legalized now, because it has a lot of positive effects on our community for tax revenue and things of that nature. And if people want to gamble, we want to also let them know that there’s ways to be able to do it in a responsible manner and be able to set limits for yourself and things of that nature. That is the most important thing, that you can do it responsibly and make sure that you’re not exceeding what your limitations are and that it’s never becoming an issue,” Fitzgerald said.
DraftKings currently has the Cardinals at +1900 to win the NFC West, by far the worst odds out of anyone. The Los Angeles Rams are +115, the San Francisco 49ers are +180, and the Seattle Seahawks are +370.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (No. 1) looks to pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Arizona, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
But the Cardinals’ legend is confident that the underdog can come out on top.
“It’s a very tough division, there’s no easy wins out there, but the Cardinals are in every game they compete in. I mean, they’ve lost by a combined six points in the two losses they’ve had. It’s not like they’ve been getting taken to the woodshed,” he said. “I just think it’s just starting off fast and having that sustained offensive production, because the defense has done a good job.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
PERTH: England elected to bat first against Australia in the Ashes series opener on Friday after captain Ben Stokes won the toss under clear blue skies at Perth Stadium.
After naming a 12-man squad for the match, the visitors opted for all-out pace in the starting side, leaving out off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in favour of Brydon Carse.
“We’ll try and get some runs on the board and then see where we are then,” Stokes said. “We’ve got to clear all of what we want to achieve out here in Australia, it starts today.”
Australia’s Steve Smith, standing in as captain for the injured Pat Cummins, struck an optimistic tone after losing the toss.
“Hopefully it seams all over the place this morning. I think the cracks will come into play, they seem to every year,” said Smith. “I think if we get the ball in the right areas this morning, there’ll be enough there for sure.”
Australia awarded first test caps to specialist opener Jake Weatherald and fast bowler Brendan Doggett, who put his hand up for selection with 13 wickets in two matches for South Australia in a dynamic start to the domestic Sheffield Shield season.
“He sort of glides through the crease, makes it look pretty easy,” pace spearhead Mitchell Starc said of Doggett.
“So, yeah, he’s got some air speed, he’s got some great skills, some swing, some seam and he’s coming off a hot streak, so hopefully that continues this week.”
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood
Maryland scores the game’s first 20 points and never looks back on its way to a season-high in scoring in a rout of Bethune-Cookman.
Source link
Baylor on Thursday announced the departure of athletic director Mack Rhoades, effective immediately.
Rhoades, who had been the AD at Baylor since July 2016, suddenly took a leave of absence from the position for personal reasons last week. He told ESPN’s Heather Dinich at the time that he initiated the leave.
“I find myself in a season of life where I need to prioritize my faith and my family with an intentional focus that requires me to move on from my role as caretaker of this great athletics program,” Rhoades said in a statement on Thursday night.
Along with stepping away from Baylor, Rhoades also left his role as chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
In a letter to the university announcing the move, Baylor president Linda Livingstone did not give a reason for his departure.
“Since joining Baylor in 2016, Mack has led our athletics program through a period of remarkable rebuilding and achievement,” Livingstone said. “During his tenure, Baylor claimed numerous Big 12 championships, made countless postseason appearances and earned national titles in several sports, including historic wins that will forever be etched in our collective memory. These victories were not just about athletic excellence — they were moments that brought the Baylor Family together, united in joy and spirit.”
Livingstone also commended Rhoades’ influence “beyond the scoreboard,” adding: “Within the Big 12 Conference and across the country, he is widely recognized as a defender of the important role athletics plays on college and university campuses.”
Rhoades is a veteran in the athletic director space, with prior stops as the AD at Missouri, Houston and Akron. His tenure includes the hiring of Matt Rhule and eight national titles, including one for Scott Drew’s men’s basketball program.
The ability to retain Drew and build the proper infrastructure and support around him has been a hallmark of Rhoades’ tenure.
“The incredible community that is the Baylor family is the absolute best of the best,” Rhoades said in his statement. “Together, we won national championships, established records in academics and fundraising, and built world-class facilities. I will forever cherish the memories and friendships I made as a Baylor Bear.”
Rhoades’ tenure included stabilizing the athletic department on the field after the tumultuous and litigious tenure of former football coach Art Briles. The hiring of Rhule pulled the program out of the depths, and current coach Dave Aranda went on to win the Big 12 title in 2021 and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl that year.
Rhoades’ predecessors as athletic director, Ian McCaw and Tom Stanton, left amid issues surrounding Briles and former basketball coach Dave Bliss, respectively.
Harris & Menuk to bring Fuze’s antimicrobial tech to South Asia
RBI Rule Alert: All Bank URLs To Now End With ‘Bank.In’ — Video Details New Scam, Know How To Protect Your Money
Vietnam attracts FDI worth over $31.5 bn in Jan-Oct 2025; up 15.6% YoY
-
Tech5 days agoNew carbon capture method uses water and pressure to remove CO₂ from emissions at half current costs
-
Politics1 week agoBritish-Pakistani honoured for transforming UK halal meat industry
-
Business6 days agoThese 9 Common Money Mistakes Are Eating Your Income
-
Sports5 days agoTexas A&M officer scolds South Carolina wide receiver after touchdown; department speaks out
-
Business6 days agoWhat’s behind Rachel Reeves’s hokey cokey on income tax rises?
-
Sports6 days agoApple scrapping MLS Season Pass service in ’26
-
Fashion7 days agoAfter London, Leeds and Newcastle, next stop Glasgow for busy Omnes
-
Tech7 days ago$25 Off Exclusive Blue Apron Coupon for November 2025