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10 Things You Need To Know About The Cardinals

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: January 25, 2009

Arizona is in the Super Bowl for the first time in its quite lengthy franchise history, so there's no shame if your knowledge of all things Cardinals is a little lacking. Here are 10 things you need to know about the Arizona Cardinals.

GOOD COMPANY

With 419 receiving yards in three postseason games, WR Larry Fitzgerald broke Jerry Rice's record for most receiving yards in a single postseason by 10 yards.

THE DREAM MACHINE

In 1947, Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill spent $100,000 - at the time the most ever paid to an NFL player - to land Georgia running back Charley Trippi and complete what became known as the "Dream Backfield." It consisted of QB Paul Christman, FB Pat Harder, HB Elmer Angsman and Trippi, who led the Cardinals to the 1947 NFL championship.

SALUTE

Pat Tillman was an All-Pro linebacker on the field, but is best remembered for the sacrifice he made off it. In May 2002, eight months after the 9/11 attacks, Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer from the Cardinals and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He became an Army Ranger and was engaged in several combat missions, but was killed by friendly fire in the mountains of Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. A statue honoring Tillman stands outside the Cardinals' new stadium.

BEST OF THE REST

Of all the quarterbacks who have attempted at least 200 career playoff passes, only Bart Starr (104.8) has a better passer rating than Arizona's Kurt Warner, who will enter the Super Bowl with a 97.3 postseason mark.

THE BIRD IS THE WORD

The Cardinals' team mascot is a 6-foot-4 cardinal with a 7-foot wingspan that goes by the name of "Big Red." Not real original, but kids love him. As for Big Red's loves, they include bird seed and gummy worms. He detests chicken wings (of course), and his favorite song is "Bird is the Word."

OLDEST PRO TEAM

The Cardinals are the oldest professional football team in terms of continuous operation. Founded as the Morgan Athletic Club in 1898, the team's nickname came from the cardinal red jerseys they wore in Chicago, where they operated through the 1959 season. In 1960 the team moved to St. Louis. In 1988, it moved to Phoenix.

CANTON CARDINALS

The Cardinals have 11 players or executives enshrined in the Hall of Fame: Charles W. Bidwill Sr., Jimmy Conzelman, Dan Dierdorf, John "Paddy" Driscoll, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Ollie Matson, Ernie Nevers, Jackie Smith, Charley Trippi, Roger Wehrli and Larry Wilson.

GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK

The Super Bowl could be RB Edgerrin James' last game with the Cardinals. James has been frustrated with his role, especially since losing his starting job to rookie Tim Hightower this season. Last week James said he does not plan to return to the team next season.

YA GOTTA BELIEVE

The Cardinals keep saying no one believed in them. Well, of course no one believed in them. They were 8-8 in 2007, and in 2008 they lost four of their last six regular-season games but won the NFC West. They had the league's worst regular-season rushing attack. The defense, which ranked 19th, finished in the top 10 in only one of 19 categories - opponent field-goal percentage.

FEEL-GOOD STORY

The feel-good story within the Cardinals' feel-good story is S Adrian Wilson. Drafted by Arizona in 2001, Wilson had a chance to leave four years later, but reupped because he wanted to do what no one else had - lead the Cardinals to the Super Bowl.

"A lot of players, it's about the money and going to another team because they think the grass is greener on the other side," Wilson said after the NFC title game. "I wanted to make sure I left my mark on this team, left a mark on this whole organization."

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