Patrick Peterson Lists Own Most Memorable Moments With Cardinals
Patrick Peterson said there was no receiver he enjoyed battling more during his career than Lions Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.
From the first game Patrick Peterson played for the Cardinals (foreshadowing!) he was leaving memories — for the franchise, for the fanbase, and for himself.
As P2 officially transitioned into retirement on Monday through a final press conference with the Cardinals, looking back on Peterson’s own favorites seemed apropos. I originally asked Peterson what his top one or two memories were; he quickly said he needed to be able to list five.
So, in what he emphasized were in no particular order (they are arranged here in chronological order), here are the five moments Peterson said live as his personal greatest highlights:
2011: Punt Return 89 yards For Touchdown In First NFL Game
Peterson wasn’t even the biggest name among rookies in his Week 1 debut; that went to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Newton didn’t disappoint, throwing for a rookie-record 422 yards in his initial outing. But midway through the fourth quarter, Peterson grabbed a Carolina punt at his own 11-yard line and, in a peek at what was to come, raced through the coverage for an electric touchdown and what turned into the game-winning score.
“Pick one versus pick five,” Peterson said. “I end up having the last laugh.”
2013: Lone Pass Completion In A Game Against Lions
When Bruce Arians arrived as coach in 2013, he didn’t love the depth of his receiving corps, and developed the idea of using Peterson, an excellent athlete, on offense. He played 38 offensive snaps that season — the last season he’d appear on offense in the NFL — and Week 2, he got to throw the only pass of his career.
Peterson found Kerry Taylor for a 17-yard gain (and coincidentally, also had a 17-yard reception himself in the contest, one of six catches he had in 2013.)
“That play was a very memorable play for me because that was the first time I was throwing a pass and Bruce Arians would always tease me about getting me on offense and he actually called a play,” Peterson said. “It was like, ‘Holy s**t, here we go.'”
