Despite spectacular play, Poole fighting for a job again
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
May 1, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Nate Poole's spectacular season-ending catch that knocked the Minnesota Vikings out of the playoffs is ancient history. He's fighting for a job again with the Arizona Cardinals.
``That's part of this game,'' he said. ``If it comes easy to you, it don't last long. If it comes hard, it lasts forever.''
Sidelined by a sore back, Poole could only watch Friday and Saturday as new coach Dennis Green ran the players through a minicamp at Cardinals headquarters. He was eager to get in uniform and into the fight to become Arizona's No. 4 receiver.
``I'm going to keep pushing, man,'' Poole said. ``I'm here for a reason. There's a reason all that stuff happened in the offseason. There's a reason they called me back the number of times they did. I'm going to keep pushing. That's how I like to play football.''
Poole and Randy Moss were teammates at Marshall. Moss went on to fame and fortune at Minnesota. Poole was not drafted and spent his first year out of college on Arizona's practice squad.
After three years on the NFL's fringe, and being cut from the Cardinals four times, Poole earned a taste of fame in one magnificent moment last Dec. 28 at Sun Devil Stadium. On the final play of the game, Josh McCown threw a 28-yard spiral that Poole leaped to catch just inside the end zone to beat Minnesota 18-17. The Vikings, who led 17-6 with two minutes to go, did not make the playoffs. Green Bay was in.
To show their gratitude, the Packers made Poole an honorary cheesehead. They flew him to Green Bay for the playoff game against Seattle. He had dinner with the mayor and toured the Packers Hall of Fame.
``It was real cold up there, but I enjoyed myself,'' Poole said. ``Overall it was a good trip, but I'm just ready for this season to start.''
Tongue firmly in cheek, McCown wondered why he didn't get a trip to Green Bay, too. After all, he was the one who threw the pass.
``Being it was Green Bay, I figured they would respect the quarterback position,'' McCown said, ``with Brett (Favre) and Bart Starr and the legacy of great quarterbacks there. But apparently it was one-sided.''
McCown went on to earn a bigger reward -- the starting job in Green's pass-loving offense.
``Josh is a good quarterback, man,'' Poole said. ``People don't know. They've seen the last three games, but there's a whole lot Josh has to offer that nobody's seen.''
Poole is one of 10 wide receivers on the roster. The top three spots are set: last season's rookie of the year Anquan Boldin; this year's first-round pick Larry Fitzgerald; and last year's first-rounder Bryant Johnson.
Poole's competition includes Jason McAddley, Bryan Gilmore and Kevin Kasper. There's also Karl Williams, who figures to make the team anyway as a kick returner, along with undrafted rookie Romby Bryant and Reggie Newhouse, who is playing in NFL Europe.
Last season, Poole was cut in training camp, then was re-signed on Sept. 26 because of the Cardinals' rash of receiver injuries. He caught 13 passes, five for 86 yards in that last victory.
``It's a new staff, so in a sense everybody has to prove themselves again,'' McCown said. ``Nate's in the same situation. Right now he's battling a back injury. It's just a minicamp, so hopefully he can get healthy, so when it's really time to go in training camp in August, he can put his best foot forward and try to be a part of this team.''
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Poole fighting for job....again.
