Ranking the Top Five Offensive Players in Team History
May 14, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) looks on during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The Cardinals are one of the oldest franchises in the history of the NFL. Unfortunately they haven’t produced an abundance of elite offensive talent over the years, which has led to some painful football for Cardinals fans to endure. The following players are some of the best players ever to put on a Cardinals uniform.
Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald is arguably the Cardinals best player ever. With 764 receptions, 10,413 yards, and 77 touchdowns in his career, Larry Fitzgerald is the Cardinals all time leader at receiver. A six time pro bowl player who is destined to get an invitation to Canton and the hall of fame someday, Fitzgerald will not only go down as the Cardinals best receiver ever, but he may end up being one of the greatest receivers in NFL history.
Larry Centers
The fans loved Jake Plummer, but it was Centers who was the heart and soul of the Cardinals offense in the 90’s. He was a hard to tackle beast when he had the ball in his hands, almost always making the first defender miss. Centers stands as one of the best receiving running backs in Cardinal history, and still holds the NFL record for most receptions by a running back with 101 catches in 1995.
Kurt Warner
In 2008, Kurt Warner had the best season for a quarterback in Cardinals history. Warner finished the 2008 season with a completion percentage of 67%, 4583 yards, 30 touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 96.9, all time records for a Cardinals quarterback. Statistically Warner had a stellar year, but one of his biggest accomplishments was leading the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Warner finished his career as a Cardinal and had what some may argue to be a hall of fame career.
Anquan Boldin
If not for Fitzgerald, Boldin may still be a Cardinals receiver and be higher on this list. Boldin has the second and third best receiving seasons in Cardinals history behind only Fitzgerald. His tenacity going over the middle made him a dangerous weapon and a fan favorite. He won offensive rookie of the year in 2003 and made it to three pro bowls in his career with the Cardinals.
Otis Anderson
Anderson was the Cardinals first round pick in 1979 when they were still known as the St. Louis Cardinals. He immediately impressed as his single season 1,605 rushing yard performance is still the most yards a Cardinals running back has ever rushed for in a single season. In fact, Anderson owns five of the top 10 best seasons for running backs in Cardinals history. Thirty five years after being drafted in 1979 Anderson still hold up as one of the best Cardinals running backs ever.