Why Drew Allar Is Going To Be Drafted a Lot Higher Than You Might Think | Deadspin.com Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was supposed to be a first-round pick.Allar returned to the Nittany Lions after a disappointing exit in the College Football Playoff last year. A veteran Penn State team quarterbacked by Allar flopped, causing James Franklin to be fired. Allar was sidelined after a season-ending ankle break ended his college football career.At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Allar’s redemption story began. He effortlessly showcased his big arm. At 6-foot-5, Allar has the size and upside that NFL talent evaluators fall in love with.His big red flag is his lack of consistency. Allar showed flashes of greatness. Other times, he left meat on the bone in a Penn State offense that just never seemed to play into his strengths as a passer.Yet still, he finished his college football career with 61 touchdown passes compared to just 13 interceptions. In 45 college football games, Allar threw for over 7,400 yards. He’s also more athletic and escapable than he gets credit for, averaging 16 rushing yards per game and adding 12 touchdowns with his legs over those four seasons.Even though Allar’s stock is generally viewed as late Day 2 or early Day 3, don’t be surprised if he’s drafted as soon as the third round.NFL talent evaluators will park Allar’s Penn State career and try to figure out what kind of quarterback he can evolve into at the next level, especially in their respective environments. Because the Nittany Lions didn’t ever necessarily lean all the way into Allar’s strengths, he’s a little bit of a clay ball.At 6-foot-5, Allar has prototypical franchise quarterback size. Even though Allar’s accuracy can be shaky and his footwork was inconsistent, NFL teams will bank on his size, big arm and underrated athleticism to overcome those deficiencies in his game.The NFL is the ultimate supply and demand league. There are more bad quarterbacks than good ones currently in the NFL. That benefits Allar, who is an intriguing prospect with a ton of upside in the right environment.Last year, the NFL Draft only had two first-round quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart. Maybe Tyler Shough can convince the New Orleans Saints that he’s the real deal. Perhaps the same could be said for Shedeur Sanders, who will get another crack at being the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback in 2026.But outside of that? It was a forgettable draft for quarterbacks.The same is getting ready to be said about the 2026 quarterback class. Fernando Mendoza will be drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. But after that? Alabama’s Ty Simpson would be the only other first-round quarterback. Then LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Allar and Miami’s Carson Beck should be waiting by their phones – but there’s no telling when it might ring.Quarterback-needy teams haven’t been able to hide their interest in Allar. He’s had top 30 visits with the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The New York Jets brought him in for a private workout. He also met with the Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The Jets, Cardinals, Browns and Steelers could all use a quarterback in the first-round. Will any of them fall in love with Simpson? If not, a lottery ticket on Allar would make sense.Even beyond those teams, the Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams would be two destinations where Allar can sit behind stable quarterback situations and learn.He’s going to be drafted sooner than people think. Penn State haters will deploy their memes about how inconsistent his college career was. But his size and upside will have NFL decision makers ignoring the Allar naysayers next week. #Drew #Allar #Drafted #Lot #Higher #Deadspin.com

Why Drew Allar Is Going To Be Drafted a Lot Higher Than You Might Think | Deadspin.com

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was supposed to be a first-round pick.
Allar returned to the Nittany Lions after a disappointing exit in the College Football Playoff last year. A veteran Penn State team quarterbacked by Allar flopped, causing James Franklin to be fired. Allar was sidelined after a season-ending ankle break ended his college football career.
At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Allar’s redemption story began. He effortlessly showcased his big arm. At 6-foot-5, Allar has the size and upside that NFL talent evaluators fall in love with.
His big red flag is his lack of consistency. Allar showed flashes of greatness. Other times, he left meat on the bone in a Penn State offense that just never seemed to play into his strengths as a passer.
Yet still, he finished his college football career with 61 touchdown passes compared to just 13 interceptions. In 45 college football games, Allar threw for over 7,400 yards. He’s also more athletic and escapable than he gets credit for, averaging 16 rushing yards per game and adding 12 touchdowns with his legs over those four seasons.
Even though Allar’s stock is generally viewed as late Day 2 or early Day 3, don’t be surprised if he’s drafted as soon as the third round.
NFL talent evaluators will park Allar’s Penn State career and try to figure out what kind of quarterback he can evolve into at the next level, especially in their respective environments. Because the Nittany Lions didn’t ever necessarily lean all the way into Allar’s strengths, he’s a little bit of a clay ball.
At 6-foot-5, Allar has prototypical franchise quarterback size. Even though Allar’s accuracy can be shaky and his footwork was inconsistent, NFL teams will bank on his size, big arm and underrated athleticism to overcome those deficiencies in his game.
The NFL is the ultimate supply and demand league. There are more bad quarterbacks than good ones currently in the NFL. That benefits Allar, who is an intriguing prospect with a ton of upside in the right environment.
Last year, the NFL Draft only had two first-round quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart. Maybe Tyler Shough can convince the New Orleans Saints that he’s the real deal. Perhaps the same could be said for Shedeur Sanders, who will get another crack at being the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback in 2026.
But outside of that? It was a forgettable draft for quarterbacks.
The same is getting ready to be said about the 2026 quarterback class. Fernando Mendoza will be drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. But after that? Alabama’s Ty Simpson would be the only other first-round quarterback. Then LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Allar and Miami’s Carson Beck should be waiting by their phones – but there’s no telling when it might ring.
Quarterback-needy teams haven’t been able to hide their interest in Allar. He’s had top 30 visits with the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The New York Jets brought him in for a private workout. He also met with the Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Jets, Cardinals, Browns and Steelers could all use a quarterback in the first-round. Will any of them fall in love with Simpson? If not, a lottery ticket on Allar would make sense.
Even beyond those teams, the Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams would be two destinations where Allar can sit behind stable quarterback situations and learn.
He’s going to be drafted sooner than people think. Penn State haters will deploy their memes about how inconsistent his college career was. But his size and upside will have NFL decision makers ignoring the Allar naysayers next week.

#Drew #Allar #Drafted #Lot #Higher #Deadspin.com

Sports news April 15, 2026

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was supposed to be a first-round pick.

Allar returned to the Nittany Lions after a disappointing exit in the College Football Playoff last year. A veteran Penn State team quarterbacked by Allar flopped, causing James Franklin to be fired. Allar was sidelined after a season-ending ankle break ended his college football career.

At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Allar’s redemption story began. He effortlessly showcased his big arm. At 6-foot-5, Allar has the size and upside that NFL talent evaluators fall in love with.

His big red flag is his lack of consistency. Allar showed flashes of greatness. Other times, he left meat on the bone in a Penn State offense that just never seemed to play into his strengths as a passer.

Yet still, he finished his college football career with 61 touchdown passes compared to just 13 interceptions. In 45 college football games, Allar threw for over 7,400 yards. He’s also more athletic and escapable than he gets credit for, averaging 16 rushing yards per game and adding 12 touchdowns with his legs over those four seasons.

Even though Allar’s stock is generally viewed as late Day 2 or early Day 3, don’t be surprised if he’s drafted as soon as the third round.

NFL talent evaluators will park Allar’s Penn State career and try to figure out what kind of quarterback he can evolve into at the next level, especially in their respective environments. Because the Nittany Lions didn’t ever necessarily lean all the way into Allar’s strengths, he’s a little bit of a clay ball.

At 6-foot-5, Allar has prototypical franchise quarterback size. Even though Allar’s accuracy can be shaky and his footwork was inconsistent, NFL teams will bank on his size, big arm and underrated athleticism to overcome those deficiencies in his game.

The NFL is the ultimate supply and demand league. There are more bad quarterbacks than good ones currently in the NFL. That benefits Allar, who is an intriguing prospect with a ton of upside in the right environment.

Last year, the NFL Draft only had two first-round quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart. Maybe Tyler Shough can convince the New Orleans Saints that he’s the real deal. Perhaps the same could be said for Shedeur Sanders, who will get another crack at being the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback in 2026.

But outside of that? It was a forgettable draft for quarterbacks.

The same is getting ready to be said about the 2026 quarterback class. Fernando Mendoza will be drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. But after that? Alabama’s Ty Simpson would be the only other first-round quarterback. Then LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Allar and Miami’s Carson Beck should be waiting by their phones – but there’s no telling when it might ring.

Quarterback-needy teams haven’t been able to hide their interest in Allar. He’s had top 30 visits with the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The New York Jets brought him in for a private workout. He also met with the Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Jets, Cardinals, Browns and Steelers could all use a quarterback in the first-round. Will any of them fall in love with Simpson? If not, a lottery ticket on Allar would make sense.

Even beyond those teams, the Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams would be two destinations where Allar can sit behind stable quarterback situations and learn.

He’s going to be drafted sooner than people think. Penn State haters will deploy their memes about how inconsistent his college career was. But his size and upside will have NFL decision makers ignoring the Allar naysayers next week.

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#Drew #Allar #Drafted #Lot #Higher #Deadspin.com

Quiz: Can You Identify the World-Famous City From Just One Photo?

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home">

mwasimuddin125 0

Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026.

One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home.

After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl.

Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison.

Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad:

People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life.

But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story.

It’s a thank-you letter.

I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today.

The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes.

I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention.

You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word.

For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it.

Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from.

It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry.

You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain.

On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way.

When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough.

Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for.

Belonging.

And that sense of belonging changed me.

After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own.

So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton.

It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything.

Thank you, Arizona.

Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own.

Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man.

You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football.

You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong.

Most of all, you gave me a home.

With love and gratitude,

(signed)

Larry Fitzgerald

HOF 26

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home">Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’

Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026.

One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home.

After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl.

Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison.

Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad:

People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life.

But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story.

It’s a thank-you letter.

I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today.

The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes.

I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention.

You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word.

For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it.

Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from.

It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry.

You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain.

On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way.

When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough.

Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for.

Belonging.

And that sense of belonging changed me.

After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own.

So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton.

It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything.

Thank you, Arizona.

Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own.

Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man.

You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football.

You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong.

Most of all, you gave me a home.

With love and gratitude,

(signed)

Larry Fitzgerald

HOF 26

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">

Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it. #Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

mwasimuddin125 0

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.
The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.
The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.
That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.
On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.
Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.
But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.
I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.
One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.
Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.
In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.
There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.
I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.
Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

Nellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky Bhasker

Tiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T Natarajan

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">