A short while after playing a round of golf on a sun-drenched morning in Orlando, Fla., Larry Fitzgerald was missing something.
The NFL playoffs.
"I am setting out every year for one goal and one goal only, and that's to compete for a Lombardi (Trophy)," said Fitzgerald, 33. "When you fall short of that, especially at my age, there is not much silver lining to it. Thirteen years of sucking, you know. You feel unfulfilled, and sitting back watching games last week, it sucked."
Fitzgerald, who participated in a pro-am Thursday, will be in the field for the Diamond Resorts Invitational. The 54-hole celebrity tournament is set to begin Friday at Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando.
Despite his relaxed demeanor, Fitzgerald maintains a high standard. It's why the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver called his 2016 season a failure despite his statistics: 107 catches for 1,023 yards and six touchdowns. That's because the Cardinals, one year after losing to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game, finished 7-8-1.
"It is not fun, and you've got a team as talented as any team in the playoffs but couldn't get stuff together," Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald, who has spent his entire career in Arizona, has his stuff together. His total of 1,125 catches ranks third all time, and his 14,389 receiving yards are ninth.
"It seems the older he gets, it seems like he is going backward," said Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, who also is playing golf this week in Orlando. "He seems like he is getting better the older he gets. He is playing like a 25-year-old."
As impressive as his body of art, Fitzgerald realizes Father Time can't be caught from behind.
"My body is getting worse every year, but I have found a head coach (Bruce Arians) who knows what the heck he is doing, puts me in position to be successful, doesn't ask me to do things I am not capable of doing anymore," Fitzgerald said. "I trust him. He trusts me. I think I have an All-Pro quarterback in Carson Palmer who makes it pretty easy. I am just grateful for the opportunity I have at this stage of my career."
Fitzgerald scored twice in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009, when the Cardinals lost 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa. Eight years _ and counting _ Fitzgerald does not know whether he will get back again.
"I remember more the opportunity and the journey we were able to embark on that was really special," Fitzgerald said of the Cardinals' only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. "We fell short of our ultimate goal, but it was a great accomplishment to get to that point."
Fitzgerald simply has been great.
His stats show it. His durability _ missing only six out of a possible 208 regular-season games in his career _ proves it. Peterson, his teammate of six years, confirms it.
Both Cardinals are expected to return to Orlando for the Pro Bowl on Jan. 29 at Camping World Stadium.
"The guy is just so lovable," Peterson said. "What can you say bad about Larry? His hairline is about to leave? That's about the only thing you can say negatively about him. Other than that, the guy is a class act, A-1. I haven't had a better teammate than Larry."
