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One of the few things we know as Arizona Cardinals fans is that Larry Fitzgerald is one of the best people in the NFL off the field.
It was again acknowledged by those outside of Arizona, this time by the Pro Football Writers of America who awarded Fitzgerald with the PFWF Good Guy Award, from the team:
"Presented annually since 2005, the award recognizes an NFL player “for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs.” Former Cardinals QB Kurt Warner received the honor in 2008 making the Arizona one of three teams with multiple recipients of the award (Green Bay’s Brett Favre & Aaron Rodgers; Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman). This year’s other finalists were Malcolm Jenkins (Philadelphia), Matt Ryan (Atlanta), Matthew Slater (New England) and Jason Witten (Dallas)."
The Arizona Cardinals have been fortunate to have Larry Fitzgerald as a part of their organization for the entirety of his career in Arizona. His on field play makes him one of the greatest wide receivers the game has ever seen, but his work within the community makes him maybe the most important athlete in the Cardinals history.
From the team:
"Last month, Fitzgerald was awarded the Arizona Chamber of Commerce’s Heritage Award, an honor annually bestowed on an individual whose accomplishments and commitment to Arizona are recognized not only statewide but also nationally and internationally. Following the 2014 season, he was named the inaugural winner of the Art Rooney NFL Sportsmanship Award, presented to a player who demonstrates on-the-field qualities of great sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for opponents and integrity in competition. In 2012, Pro Football Weekly selected Fitzgerald for the 14th Annual Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award, given to the NFL player whose contributions to the community and charitable organizations are especially outstanding."
What Fitzgerald does off the field is not news, it is not something that gets talked about enough, but they are what makes him a unique and special player within the history of not just the Cardinals, but the NFL.