Sanders says Cards should trade Patrick Peterson to contender
On the same day the Cardinals acquired one Peterson, one of the NFL’s better defensive backs of all-time suggested the Cardinals should trade the Peterson they already had on their roster.
During Tuesday’s telecast of “21st and Prime” on the NFL Network, analyst and Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders speculated that cornerback Patrick Peterson has grown frustrated with playing for the Cardinals and that Arizona should consider trading the sixtime Pro Bowl selection to the Green Bay Packers.
Earlier in the day, the Cardinals announced they had dealt a conditional (sixth-round) draft pick to the Saints in exchange for running back Adrian Peterson, the three-time NFL rushing champion who ranks 16th all-time in total rushing yards with 11,828.
“I don’t know if you know it, but do you remember a guy by the name of Prime Time?” Sanders said, referring to himself. “He was kind of in the same situation with a struggling team called the Atlanta Falcons. Then lo and behold, this team from San Francisco just needed this little extra push, called, and he came on running and the rest is history – a gold jacket later.
“Let me tell you something. Patrick Peterson is a shutdown corner. He’s a prolific corner and he’s a prolific punt returner. But he’s getting frustrated – solid frustration – playing with the Arizona Cardinals. I wish they would let him go – if we had our dreams and wishes – to let him go to a playoff contender, possibly a Super Bowl contender in the Green Bay Packers. That would be phenomenal. It would be good for our game. It would be good for both parties because I’m sure Arizona could get a whole lot for a Patrick Peterson.”
Peterson stuck with No. 23
He’s worn No. 28 ever since he entered the NFL in 2007, but upon becoming a member of the Cardinals this week, Adrian Peterson had no luck in trying to pry No. 28 away from cornerback Justin Bethel. That’s been Bethel’s number for the past six seasons, and Peterson either didn’t or wouldn’t offer up enough to make Bethel change jersey numbers.
“We had a conversation. It didn’t last long at all,” Peterson said. “We kind of discussed it a little bit, and at the end of the day, I’ll be wearing a different number. … We just didn’t agree, I’ll say that.”
For now, at least, Peterson will wear No. 23, which most recently belonged to the man he replaces in the Cardinals’ backfield, Chris Johnson. Peterson said he has no issues with Bethel holding on to No. 28 and added he respects him as a person and a player.
“I like him. He’s a guy that I’ve watched and I appreciate,” Peterson said. “He’s one of those guys that came from the bottom who has made a name for himself. He’s a hard worker and he represents that number well. If it was another guy, I would probably be tougher on him, but he can have it.”
According to NFL rules, the league wouldn't have allowed a jersey number exchange anyway. It is against league policy for players to switch jersey numbers in-season. It can only occur should a position switch also be involved, such as a lineman moving to a receiver or fullback position.
Roster move
Rookie guard Dorian Johnson, a fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh who initially was seen as one of the Cardinals’ starting guards of the future, was signed off of Arizona’s practice squad by the Houston Texans. By rule, he had to be added to the Texans’ 53-man active roster.
When he was drafted, Johnson was to compete with second-year pro Evan Boehm for the starting right guard spot and/or possibly be ready to eventually replace veteran left guard Mike Iupati. Johnson never made a push, however, struggling in training camp and during the preseason.
Why didn’t it work out?
“It just didn’t,” coach Bruce Arians said. “He struggled in pass protection and we saw progress, but not the speed that we would have liked to add him on the active roster.”
The Cardinals re-signed tackle/guard Givens Price to replace Johnson on the 10-man practice squad.
McCoy warns of ‘uproar’
Buccaneers defensive lineman Gerald McCoy, speaking on ESPN's Adam Schefter’s podcast, said he thinks there could be an “uproar” if NFL players are forced to stand for the national anthem.
“I don’t think guys are gonna like it,” McCoy said. “I think it’s gonna be an uproar if that is to happen because you’re basically taking away a constitutional right to freedom of speech. If guys want to have a– I guess you would call it a peaceful protest – I don’t think it’s right to take that away.”