Patrick Peterson had previously spent the entirety of his career with the Cardinals, and apparently, he really didn’t want to leave, which is why he seems to still have a bad taste in his mouth regarding how management handled his contract situation.
Peterson was the fifth pick in the 2011 draft, as he was viewed as a shutdown cornerback who could also spark explosive plays in the return game. And while both were true at the time, NFL teams eventually realized it’s not wise to have superstar-caliber players on expensive contracts on special teams duty. But he did return a few punts in late-game scenarios when the Cardinals were in need of a big play.
And while Peterson was a great player for the Cardinals for roughly a decade, his coverage skills have declined over the past few seasons. He’s just not the same player he once was, which isn’t surprising, as he turned 31 last month. And that’s probably why the Cardinals chose not to re-sign him during the offseason.
Instead, the Vikings inked him to a one-year, $8 million deal with the Vikings. And while Peterson is focused on the future, he clearly hasn’t forgotten about how the Cardinals treated him during contract negotiations.
“I was just frustrated and upset at how upper management handled the situation,” Peterson said, via The Athletic. “You tell me one thing, then when it’s time to talk, you turn your shoulder on me like it’s cold shoulder. I’ve been in this league a long time. Thirty years old. Grown man. Talk to me like a grown man, not like a child or your side piece.”
He also explained why he settled for a one-year “prove it” deal.
“I’m willing to bet on myself for this season knowing the salary cap is going to go back up, and I can have opportunities to come back to the table and get more than what I got this year,” Peterson said.
It sure looks like Peterson will be motivated to stick it to his former team this season.
