Kyler Murray Poised for Future After Missing the Cut as Larry Fitzgerald Jr Leads Cardinals Mount Rushmore, Released by NFL

In the scorching heat of the Arizona desert, where footballs soar and legends are born, the NFL has carved out a Mount Rushmore of Cardinals greats. At the peak stands Larry Fitzgerald Jr, the man with hands softer than a cactus flower and a legacy harder than desert rock.

Fitz didn’t just play the game; he rewrote the playbook. With 1,303 receptions, 16,279 yards, and 116 touchdowns, he’s second only to the GOAT Jerry Rice in all-time catches and receiving yards. But it wasn’t just about the numbers. Fitz was the heart and soul of the Cardinals, a beacon of hope in the sometimes-barren football landscape of Arizona.

Remember the 2008 playoffs? Fitz went on a tear that would make a roadrunner jealous, “obliterating numerous records” and leaving defenders in his dust.

Joining Fitzgerald on this mountain of gridiron greatness are three other Cardinals legends. First up, Larry Wilson, the safety with a nose for the ball and a penchant for pick-sixes. Wilson’s seven career defensive touchdowns were nightmares for opposing quarterbacks. As the franchise leader in interceptions with 52, Wilson was the best at his position for a five-year stretch in the late 1960s.

Next, we’ve got Aeneas Williams, the shutdown corner who could lock down receivers tighter than a xerophyte holds onto water. With 46 interceptions in 10 seasons with Arizona, Williams was a Pro Bowl regular from 1994 to 1999. His eight career defensive scores are the most in club history, proving he knew how to take it to the house.

Rounding out the group of four is Dan Dierdorf, the immovable object on the offensive line. Before he was calling games from the booth, Dierdorf was pancaking defenders for 13 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Six Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams later, Dierdorf helped the Cardinals go 31-11 from 1974 to 1976, a golden era for the franchise.

But wait, there’s more! The honorable mentions list reads like a who’s who of Cardinals history. There’s Roger Wehrli, the shutdown corner with 40 picks in his 14-year career. Patrick Peterson, the modern-day defensive back who made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons. And let’s not forget Charley Trippi, the Swiss Army knife who scored touchdowns in five different ways and helped the Cardinals win the 1947 NFL title.

Now, as we tip our caps to these legends, all eyes turn to the future and the young gunslinger looking to etch his name in Cardinals lore – Kyler Murray.

Kyler Murray is aiming for the summit

Murray, the former number-one overall pick, has been slinging the rock and juking defenders since day one. But individual accolades aren’t enough for this young QB. As he told The Schmo at the Celebrity Slam Jam Basketball Game in April this year, “Honestly man for me, to be blessed and in the NFL is a dream of mine to be where I’m at right now. So to be living that out – my biggest goal is to win Super Bowls. So we got to get there. As far as everything I’ve accomplished I’m not satisfied.”

Murray’s not just talk. In 2023, despite playing only a handful of games, he racked up 1,799 passing yards and 1,040 rushing yards, finishing 4th in the league in rushing yards per game. But for Murray and the Cardinals, it’s not about padding stats – it’s about winning games.

With new head coach Jonathan Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort calling the shots, the Cardinals are locked and loaded for a turnaround. Murray’s got more weapons at his disposal than John Wayne at the O.K. Corral, and he’s ready to use them.

So while Fitzgerald, Wilson, Williams, and Dierdorf hold their place on the Cardinals’ Mount Rushmore, don’t count out the kid with the golden arm and lightning legs. Kyler Murray’s gunning for the top, and in the NFL, today’s underdog could be tomorrow’s top dog. The sky’s the limit for this Cardinal ready to take flight.