Are the Cardinals primed for a letdown? Not with Fitz

Even if the Arizona Cardinals do indeed wallow in yet another case of Super Bowl hangover in 2009, you can count on one thing. Larry Fitzgerald will continue to amaze.

Let's face one distinct possibility: that Kurt Warner will not make it through an entire season. History is highly stacked against quarterbacks in their late 30's playing in 16 games in back-to-back years. Warner did so last year, the first time since his St. Louis days in 2001.

The Cardinals were able to hang on to some of their key players, franchising Karlos Dansby for a second consecutive season, locking up Adrian Wilson long term, and at least for now, keeping Anquan Boldin quiet about his displeasure with his current contract situation.

To boot, they have a soft schedule, and an even softer division, the NFC West. Since 2000, the only Super Bowl loser to return to the playoffs the following year was the Seattle Seahawks in 2006, beneficiaries of the same weak division. So the Cardinals, woebegone until their amazing run last year, have that to look forward to.

The biggest questions as far as personnel go for the Cardinals lie at the hands of Matt Leinart, the team's first round pick in 2006 who has started just 16 games in three years. Leinart has had his desire questioned somewhat by head coach Ken Whisenhunt, and many still wonder if he can lead Arizona should Warner go down.

But alas, even a partied-out Leinart can rejoice in the awesomeness of Fitzgerald, the game's top receiver who put on a show last January and February when the Cardinals shocked football fans everywhere. Rookie running back Chris "Beanie" Wells also has a chance to lighten the load on Cardinal quarterbacks this year and keep Arizona's offense among the game's elite.