FanHouse Talks to Larry Fitzgerald

Will Brinson kicked it at The OC for the Nike Global Training Summit.

Larry Fitzgerald vaulted himself to the top of everyone's wide receiver rankings with a ridiculous close to 2008, as well as an otherworldly playoff run that ultimately resulted in a trip to the Super Bowl.

Things have been a little different this year, though -- Fitzgerald is dealing with Anquan Boldin's possible holdout and -- as a native Minnesotan and lifelong Vikings fan -- the emotions of possibly having Brett Favre wear Minnesota Vikings colors.

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At the Nike Global Training Summit, Fitzgerald took time to talk with FanHouse about these items as well as racing bloggers in 40-yard dashes (aside: if I was obnoxious or cared all that much, I'd point out that said race was actually my idea; it unfolded much like the Fish Sticks South Park episode, awkwardly). Obviously, as well, Larry was scared of lining up against my SEC-like speed.

FanHouse: "Are you down with racing bloggers ... or journalists, I guess? I noticed you stayed competitive when talking about it."

Larry Fitzgerald: "As an athlete, man, you compete in everything you do. It's always a competition."

FH: "I'm sure you're sick of talking about it, but ... Anquan Boldin: is he going to be ready for the start of the season?"

Fitzgerald: "Definitely. He's a true professional. He works extremely hard at his craft and that's why he's had the great results he's had over the last six years. We're a lot better football team with Anquan on it, and we want to keep him around as long as possible and we just hope that this disturbance will end happily and we can keep being a happy family."

FH: "A lot of people have you currently ranked as the top wide receiver in the NFL -- round out your top five after you."

Fitzgerald: "I don't know if I'm top five yet, I'm a work in progress and I've got a lot to improve on. But there's a plethora of really talented people in this league and I'd hate to number categorize guys. And this is no particular order, but: Randy Moss is still very talented, Reggie Wayne is unbelievable, Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Lee Evans, Terrell Owens, I think Torry Holt still has a lot left in the tank -- I know I'm missing some guys -- Calvin Johnson, Anquan's right up there. There are a lot of guys who are extremely talented, but it's a lot about the system you're in."

FH: "You're a Vikings guy -- what do you think about Brett Favre (possibly) wearing purple?"

Fitzgerald: "You know, I kinda got mixed emotions. I'm a closet Vikings fan still. When we're not playing them, I like to see them win. Most of my closest friends play on the Vikings. And see, Brett Favre is kind of different -- he tormented me a little bit as a child. He hurt my feelings a lot, sent me to school with bad feelings all the time. But he's an unbelievable player, a Hall of Famer and a consummate professional and if he can go there and help the Vikings win, I hope they go 14-2; we beat them in December and get the number one seed."