No Longer In The Shadows: Steve Breaston Elevates His Game

When someone mentions the receiving corp of the Arizona Cardinals, the names that automatically come to mind are Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Very rarely do you hear of anyone else. Up until last year, there was no one else. What a shadow the two receivers bestow upon the second string.

That was until last year when Steve Breaston decides the sophomore slump wasn't in the menu.

Don't get me wrong, the shadow still looms over Breaston, especially when it's cast by the best receiver in the game and the best one, two punch in the game.

That didn't seem to matter to Breaston. In fact, you could barely notice. He elevated his game in tremendous fashion. His rookie year wasn't even worth noticing. Sure he did have 1,391 kick return yards and added 395 in punt return yards, but as a receiver, he gained a whopping 92 yards. 92 yards!?

In Breastons defense, he has never really been known as a receiver, more of a slasher. His entire career at Michigan, fans waited and waited for him to break out and be the receiver he was expected to be.

That never happened. Breaston accumulated 1,252 yards in three seasons at Michigan. A huge disappointment when you consider he was supposed to fill the vacancy left by Braylon Edwards.

Breaston never got down on himself though, and he always focussed on the positives. He was a great return man, and a work in progress as a receiver.

Last season Todd Hailey saw something more. He saw a bright young talented receiver who could be the perfect slot receiver in his offense.

And that's exactly what he was. Breaston amassed 1,006 yards receiving on 77 receptions, a 13.1 yard average. A huge season for the second year man.

While a good chunk of those yards came when Breaston filled in for the injured Boldin, yards are yards. That only proves he's capable of manning the load that comes with being a starter.

He was reliable all season and quickly became another favorite target for Kurt Warner. As if he didn't have enough favorites already.

After seeing this great season by Breaston, I began thinking, what does this guy go through on a daily basis? How is he seen in the locker room? And so on.

I came up with a series of questions that I would love to ask him. And here they are.

1. Last season was a breakout year for you, what do you predict for this upcoming season and what are the measures your taking to achieve those goals.

2. There's a new offense in town, and with the departure of Todd Haily, how involved in the offense are you?

3. What would you say you prefer: receiving or returning?

4. After falling just short in the Super Bowl, how hungry are the Arizona Cardinals to make it make to the big game to prove this wasn't just a one year wonder?

5. You were teammates with Cleveland Browns receiver Braylon Edwards at Michigan, do you still stay in contact with him and what type of a mentor was he to you?

6. Going back to Edwards, what would you say to him about his current situation with the Browns knowing that he was in the midst of some deep trade rumors?

7. When your playing days are over, what lasting image or thought do you want your fans to have about you?

8. If you could have played any other sport, what would it have been?

I imagine that Breaston would be a professional and a great interview. He's definitely caught the attention of Cardinal fans all over. I know I'm excited to see his performance this season, and it won't surprise me to see his numbers and production go up.

Breaston may still take the back seast to Fitzgerald and Boldin, but he is no longer in their shadows.