GOOD NEWS;’ Eight-time Pro Bowler set to return to Pittsburgh…
Patrick Peterson, a free agency defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, says he’s always wanted to play in the NFL for at least 14 seasons.
Now he must wait to see which organization will provide him the opportunity to do so.
According to Rich Eisen of the NFL Network, the eight-time Pro Bowler would prefer to play for the Steelers, but he is also in talks with one of the Black and Gold’s opponents for next season.
“You know how much I adore Coach (Mike) Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, and Joey Porter (Jr.). “I want to be there for his growth throughout his young NFL career,” Peterson told Eisen on his Roku Channel show. “I spoke with Coach Zimmer in Dallas a few times. We have negotiations with two teams right now, but we’ll see how things proceed.”
Peterson was alluding to Michael Zimmer. He is the Cowboys defensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy. Zimmer was Peterson’s head coach in Minnesota for two years before he spent 2023 in Pittsburgh.
The Cowboys and Steelers face off in Week 5 of the regular season at Acrisure Stadium.
For the time being, Peterson claims he is preparing on his own as a free agent and will be ready when called upon once teams have a better understanding of their various depth charts following OTAs and minicamps.
“I’m staying in shape,” Peterson remarked. “I’m doing everything I can to be ready if the phone rings, because I want to play in the NFL for another 14 seasons.
I believe it will simply depend on how the teams handle minicamps. Now that players are in OTAs, organizations are trying to shift a few of players around and see how the roster will look heading into training camp.”
Eisen quipped that Peterson might be better off not signing a contract right now since, with 13 years of experience, he “doesn’t need to be stuck in a dorm on a college campus” somewhere.
However, Peterson disputed his judgment, stating that he values the time spent on team building.
“Having the love and aspirations of building a championship team, being around the guys, that’s almost my favorite time of the year,” Peterson maintained. “A lot of people dread the training camp part of getting ready for the season. But that’s when you may grow closer to the guys who will be present in the heat of battle.”