Veteran return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson has shed light on the circumstances surrounding his surprising release from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this offseason.
In a candid conversation on The Torchbearers podcast, hosted by teammate and fellow Tennessee alum Ramon Foster, Patterson shared that the Steelers released him on what was supposed to be a team day off. “You come in on your off day and they’re like, ‘Hey, Coach wants to see you.’ I already knew what time it was,” he explained. Patterson described the situation as both “weird” and disappointing, noting that it was his first release in 11 seasons in the NFL.
The 33 year old signed with Pittsburgh in late March after spending the last four years with the Atlanta Falcons. The Steelers were initially expected to utilize his unique blend of offensive skills and return talent especially with the new kickoff rules that make return specialists more valuable.
Despite his long standing success, including an NFL record nine career kickoff return touchdowns and four All Pro selections, Patterson never made it to training camp with the team.
In the podcast, he didn’t express bitterness but seemed to accept the release as part of the business of football. “It’s just something I had to deal with, you know?” he said.
As of now, Patterson remains a free agent. With over 8,000 all-purpose yards and 49 total touchdowns in his career, he still could offer value to teams looking for an experienced and versatile player.
Source: NFL.com