The last three years for Atlanta Falcons football fans have been a brutal stretch, but there have been some bright spots. One of the players that has brought a lot of that to the city is Cordarrelle Patterson.
The veteran signed a one-year deal with the Falcons ahead of Arthur Smith’s first season in 2021. Prior to Patterson’s time in Atlanta, he was mostly a return specialist that was sparingly used offensively. However, Smith viewed Patterson different than the rest of the league. He thought he could be a Swiss Army Knife for the Falcons offense, and it worked to perfection, as Patterson put together a career year in his first season with Atlanta, totaling 618 yards and six touchdowns on the ground as well as another 548 yards and five touchdowns through the air.
The career year netted Cordarrelle Patterson another contract with the Falcons, this time a two-year pact for $10.5 million. However, he would never replicate the same kind of production he experienced in 2021, and by his third season with the team, he totaled only 219 yards from scrimmage.
Quarterback play certainly had something to do with it. Going from Matt Ryan to Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder had a negative affect on the entire offense. But every player has a ticking time clock, and at 33-years-old, who knows how much football is left in Patterson’s future.
If his career does continue, it doesn’t look like it will be with the Falcons. On Thursday, the four-time Pro-Bowler took to Twitter to thank the city of Atlanta.
https://twitter.com/ceeflashpee84/status/1768321066240241712
Beyond his impact on the field, Cordarrelle Patterson was a joy to have around the city. Despite the team failing to make the playoffs, Atlanta seemed to hold a special place in his heart. He was interactive in the community, a tremendous locker room presence, and always thankful for the opportunity Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot gave him to be more than just a special teams ace.
Patterson’s time in Atlanta can only be viewed positively, and he will be missed as the Falcons aim to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2017 this upcoming season.
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Photographer: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire
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