Larry Fitzgerald Says He'd Have Ring If Adrian Peterson Came to Cardinals Sooner

Larry Fitzgerald's only complaint about the Arizona Cardinals acquiring Adrian Peterson: Why didn't they do it sooner?

In his first game since getting traded from the New Orleans Saints, the 32-year-old running back compiled 134 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. He previously had 26 rushes for 81 yards in four games with the Saints.

After adding 138 receiving yards and a score in Arizona's 38-33 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fitzgerald gushed about his new teammate to reporters, per AZCardinals.com's Darren Urban.

"I wish he'd have been here 11 years from the beginning," Fitzgerald said. "I'd have a Super Bowl ring already. But having him here, his leadership, his demeanor in the huddle, I think it's reinvigorating everybody."

The Cardinals have made four playoff appearances during Fitzgerald's 13-year tenure. He came closest to earning a ring when he capped off a remarkable 2008 postseason with 127 yards and two touchdowns in a Super Bowl XLIII loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Arizona averaged 73.5 rushing yards per game that season, during which Peterson ran for 1,760 yards for the Minnesota Vikings.

Peterson certainly would not have made a difference last year. While he sat out most of the year with a knee injury, the Cardinals went 7-8-1 despite running back David Johnson delivering 2,118 total yards.

Perhaps the Cardinals could have run the gauntlet if they drafted the star rusher a decade ago. Rather than ruminate over potential missed opportunities, Fitzgerald and Peterson could guide the 3-3 Cardinals back to the postseason for another swing at seizing the Lombardi Trophy.