One of the Pittsburgh Steelers' biggest offseason acquisitions this year was cornerback Patrick Peterson. Peterson is entering his 13th year in the NFL and shows no signs of slowing down. However, he is beginning to take exception with so many media outlets showing him disrespect. Peterson says he has always taken all that doubt and used it to stoke the fires of his success.
Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers cornerback, Patrick Peterson sits down to sign his two-year contract with Pittsburgh at the team's facility.
In addition to his NFL career, Peterson also co-hosts a successful podcast with his cousin Bryant McFadden, who also played cornerback for the Steelers helping them win two Super Bowls. On a recent episode of the podcast, which is called All Things Covered, McFadden and Peterson discussed Peterson's evolving role in the Steelers secondary and the doubt cast upon his contributions by the media.
During the episode, Peterson was open, but vague about his changing role. Throughout his 12-year career, he has always played outside cornerback, but there have been rumors that he might be used in a different capacity, perhaps in the slot. While Peterson wouldn't confirm the specifics, he did say that the Steelers are appreciating his athletic nature more than teams have in the past.
Steelers' Patrick Peterson Turns Skepticism Into Fuel
Peterson mentioned that he saw a reporter state that he wasn't sure how the vet would fit into the Steelers defense. This kind of doubt stokes his hunger to succeed. He said the reporter noted that he doesn't think Peterson will work out in the Steelers "man-heavy defense." McFadden was shocked at the notion of Peterson not being able to play man coverage anymore and tells him he was born to play man.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Former Pittsburgh Steelers CB Bryant McFadden (20) celebrating the team's Super Bowl XL victory.
"That's what the freak I do, I don't give a d*mn how old I am. I was born to play football. That's why they are still shocked that out of 52 corners that was drafted in 2011, that I am still here."
McFadden later clarifies that it wasn't 52 corners in his draft class, it was 52 defensive backs, but Peterson is the only one still playing.
The disrespect doesn't end there according to the two corners, McFadden notes that the team at Pro Football Focus has ranked Peterson as the 31st best cornerback entering the 2023 season. He also says that CBS' senior writer Pete Prisco lists Peterson 92 out of 100 players. On Prisco's list, there were only seven corners that made it and they are all in front of Peterson.
"I don't know if they're just tired of hearing my name or what it is. They always talking about the tape, about what you did the year before. Yeah, the year before I wasn't showing up on tape because I wasn't getting targets. Teams might have had a couple touchdowns on me in prior years, I was bored. If I get more than two targets a game, I was gonna make teams pay and get interceptions. I am a ball hog, I've been that my whole life."
Vikings.com
Pittsburgh Steelers signed CB Patrick Peterson.
PFF is widely criticized by fans and analysts alike for being too subjective. However, PFF takes the stance that the numbers don't lie and they rely on stats to form their opinions. However, sometimes rankings like this come out and you have to wonder just what numbers they were using.
"I'm still going strong, ain't got no signs of slowing down. I can't wait to show the world I can still play man. They gonna get what they have been waiting for."
Peterson goes on to say that he's always been different. That some of the misconceptions happen because people try to cram him into other player's spots. McFadden jokes that Peterson is "him" like the kids say today.
"I've been him, since I was seven years old," says Peterson.
The two disucss how Peterson has been winning awards and recieving accolades since he was a young child. This includes the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Jim Thorpe Award, which has been won by both Peterson and teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick.
"You already know [Fitzpatrick is] different, so now you got two different motherf***ers on the same secondary," expounds Peterson.
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Peterson notes that he is a "huge manifester" and he believes strongly into speaking things into existence. While he realizes the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league, he is confident in the group the Steelers have and in his own abilities. McFadden is stuck on him being named the 31st best corner by PFF and gets Peterson riled up again.
"They disrespecting you, the 31st best corner and you finished a year ago at top six."
Peterson maintains that he does all this for a love of the game. He says he loves every aspect of football and is grateful to do what he loves as a career.
"I love the game, d*mn what my paycheck says, I love the game. I love to compete. I love lining up against somebody else and having the opportunity to dissect them and know that they want to do to me before they do it. Like I love this s**t man."
Peterson says he is tired of everyone making such a big deal about his age. The two point out that at age 33, season 12, Charles Woodson won Defensive Player of the Year.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Charles Woodson played safety and cornerback for the then-Oakland Raiders. He won DPOY when he was 33 years old.
McFadden lists almost all of the players that were named ahead of Peterson on PFF's list and this just makes Peterson even angrier. He notes that PFF claims to be about the numbers, but it is impossible to believe that when some of these players haven't even played in 12 games yet.
In repsonse, McFadden starts going over Peterson's stats from last year in Minnesota. How many pass break ups? 15 or 16, he was top five in that category. How many picks? Five, he was top three in that category. According to McFadden, Peterson led the team in both categories.
"I'm the 31st corner? I had 4 picks in overtime and fourth quarter. I was the top five most impactful defensive player in the fourth quarter or overtime. And [PFF] talk about numbers," Peterson shakes his head in frustration.
What do you think of PFF's rankings? How much stock do you place into what they say? Click to comment below.
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