Patten: Skins forgotten man?

By David Murray  |   Monday, July 03, 2006  |  Comments( 7 )

Washington Redskins
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Before there were flashy young receivers named Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle-El standing under the bright lights being announced as the latest to don the burgundy and gold, there was David Patten. It was March 2005, and the Washington Redskins had found a wide receiver to complement the great Santana Moss.

A nine-year NFL veteran, Patten had come over from the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots after signing a 5 year, 13.5 million dollar contract. He had hauled in 44 passes for 800 yards, an impressive 18.2 yards per catch, and caught 7 touchdown passes. He was one of Tom Brady's go-to guys, and a key to the Patriots smooth offensive efficiency under Charlie Weis. Now he was going to be one of the Redskins stalwarts.

Sometimes, however, things don't quite work out the way they are envisioned.

Patten hurt his knee, and all of a sudden his quick flash was gone. He managed to catch just 22 passes in 9 games before it was announced that he would be undergoing surgery. He was placed on injured reserve, and his season was over. Taylor Jacobs, James Thrash and others lined up at the number two wide receiver slot, but the Redskins never found anyone who could take some of the pressure off Moss. Defenses ganged up on him because they knew the ball was coming his way at crunch time. Chris Cooley had a huge year at tight end, but the hole at wide receiver opposite Moss was never filled.

As the season wound down, a mini-controversy sprang up. Patten was quoted as saying that his placement on IR had been premature, and that his slightly torn meniscus was healed. And then, in the offseason, the brilliant young receivers were brought in. If anybody thought Patten's days were numbered after he had aired his dirty laundry in the press, now it seemed a foregone conclusion.

The Redskins now had three dynamic young wideouts, and they also had salary cap issues. Some thought Patten would be released to free up some much-needed room under the cap. Then, too, there existed the possibility that Patten could be traded to add a middle round draft choice.

But fast forward to minicamp. The 32-year-old Patten is once again healthy, and he is drawing praise from the Redskins as he competes with the youngsters ahead of him on the depth chart. And here's the thing: Don't count out the "old man" just yet. Here is a guy who owns three Super Bowl rings. A guy who came into the league as an undrafted and undersized free agent out of Western Carolina. He has not only survived but has prospered during his 10-year career. He is a fighter, and there is no quit in David Patten. When he spoke out last season, it was in frustration. He wanted to be out on the field helping his teammates.

If it comes down to a game of numbers when the cuts are made, Thrash might have an edge because he is a special teams standout. But don't assume that the Skins are going to dump Patten just yet. Can anybody say four wide receiver set?

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