Larry Fitzgerald Changed His Sideline Demeanor Tonight, Affecting His Teammates

Notes from the press box at Bank of America Stadium for Panthers - Cardinals.

It's an easily arguable point that Larry Fitzgerald was the main reason why the Arizona Cardinals are headed to their first NFC Championship game in franchise history. (You could also say "Jake Delhomme is the real answer, but there's no need to be a jerkstore.) Fitzy put on a masterful first-half show, compiling a franchise record for receiving yards before the Panthers even had time to make adjustments.

Usually he compiles these stats quietly. But the word from he and his teammates is that Larry changed his normal behavior on the sidelines and amped up his attitude.

Just ask Antonio Smith:

Normally, he doesn't [talk much] and today he did. And when somebody who is normally quiet finally says something and it means something and they are showing it with their play, it flows through everybody. I think everybody felt it and everybody turned their motor up.

Fitzgerald acknowledged as much -- insofar as the talking, although he played it down to a degree.

I get excited every once in a while, but I try to keep my cool and make sure I am being accountable for myself and to my teammates.

Now, whether Larry's performance stemmed from his dad's presence (he was in the press room for a Minnesota newspaper), his boosted emotion, or the fact that the Panthers apparently, according to Anquan Boldin, "stuck to the same scheme" defensively is hard to tell. More than likely, it's a combination of the three, but after watching the Cats get torched over and over again, it's not that tough to give most of the "credit" to the Carolina coaching staff.