Marvin Harrison Jr. had a quick session with Cardinals senior director of media relations Chris Melvin on Wednesday as the media streamed in – the rookie receiver, in a week of firsts, was about to meet the media during an open locker room for the first time.
He answered questions in front of his locker, the one on the end of the receivers row. Once, that was Larry Fitzgerald's – at least in spirit, because the team added two new stalls including Harrison's, and Fitz's actual former locker is now inhabited by veteran Chris Moore.
But that's OK for Harrison, who knows the expectations are great but who quickly notes he is not Fitzgerald, or his Hall of Fame father Marvin Harrison Sr.
"There will never be another Larry," Harrison Jr. said. "If I could have half the career Larry had that would be great. I try and take it one day at a time and be the best version of myself I can be."
The fourth overall pick was told by coach Jonathan Gannon to "be you" when he first arrived, and that's all Harrison wants.
That still might be a guy who collects 1,200 yards as a receiver (or more), although Harrison said no one has bigger expectations for him than himself. What it looks like Sunday in Buffalo when Harrison makes his NFL debut – after a preseason that saw him play a brief three snaps with no targets – remains a mystery.
"I know fans are excited, but at the end of the day I have to go out and do what (offensive coordinator) Drew (Petzing) calls," quarterback Kyler Murray said. "I know what type of talent (Marvin) is and I know what he's capable of, but we have to go out there and do it."
Harrison's mental acuity has made it easy for those around the offense to envision what Harrison will look like in a game, however. He's advanced enough that "I don't really view him as a rookie, to be honest," Murray said.
"The physical tools take care of themselves," Petzing said. "I think we saw that in college and we would expect that to continue on this level and so far it has. From a coaching standpoint, it's more, 'Do you know what to do, do you know how we need you to do it, can we move you around the formation to allow you to do all the things you've done in your past?' I think (Harrison) has embraced that."
Harrison was all smiles Wednesday. The nerves will come later, because he cares so much about the game and being successful, and he feels the gravity of trying to help his team win. The Cardinals have multiple weapons – Murray said Wednesday, for instance, he expects tight end Trey McBride to have a "monster year" – but Harrison needs to be at the forefront.
"This is what I've been waiting for," Harrison said, "to live out a dream."
