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ESPNTheMag.Com Presents: All-World Power Rankings

by Ted Bauer

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The Snake.

FOR BEST ARIZONA CARDINAL EVER, WE'RE TAKING THE SNAKE

[Ed's note: Not sure what All-World Power Rankings is? Please click here.]

Ya can argue this point, but within reason, the best storyline remaining in these playoffs is the remarkable run of the Arizona Cardinals, who had won one playoff game since 1947 before beating the Falcons on wild card weekend and are now hosting the NFC Championship Game. (Buck/Aikman totally weren't expecting to be in a warm climate this weekend.) Got us thinking: who's the best Arizona Cardinal ever? We italicized Arizona because you ain't gonna see Dan Dierdorf on this list, although frankly, you should see him on this one.

TOP 5
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
1 (14) JAKE PLUMMER His record as a starter in the desert actually was pretty bad, but our argument is based on these factors: (1) ASU star shines for the Cardinals? That's Tidwell style; (2) Before this year, the most iconic Cardinals' victory was the 1998 wild card win over the Cowboys and Plummer starred in that and (3) he does have three of the top five individual passing seasons in franchise history.
2 (410) LARRY FITZGERALD Yea. We'd already put him No. 2.
3 (21) EDGERRIN JAMES Maybe this is more symbolic, as in "Left the perennial winner Colts to come here." He's only been there since '06, though, and he has the best rushing season in franchise history, so that says something. Bonus: renaissance of late.
4 (127) LARRY CENTERS Dude is consistently underrated. Did you know he's the franchise's career receiving leader?
5 (899) PAT TILLMAN This isn't completely for football reasons, sure. We've been to Arizona about five times in our life. Everyone out there reveres him. Heck, so does almost all of America.

HONORABLE MENTION
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
18 (144) ROB MOORE You know in Ace Ventura, the "Einhorn is Finkel! Finkel is Einhorn!" scene? When we first saw Jerry Maguire, we pulled out the "Tidwell is Moore, Moore is Tidwell!" bit and the room went mute. No one laughed. Moore's 1997 was filthy, though: 1,584 yards receiving, 99 yards a game and 16.3 per catch? Yowsa.
28 (701) AENEAS WILLIAMS We wanted to put a defensive guy on here, and Williams is probably the best defensive player in AZ Cardinals history (some current guys are making a run). He made the Pro Bowl six times as a Cardinal.

RISING AND FALLING
MOVEMENT WHAT
KURT WARNER (Probably should be higher, but he's doing wonders for his "legacy" right now.)
EMMITT SMITH (So awkward.)


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