Bill Belichick apparently believes he can unlock Cordarrelle Patterson’s full potential.
Patterson, who was traded from the Oakland Raiders to the New England Patriots last month, has been a special teams star during his five-year NFL career but only a sporadic offensive contributor, able to break long gains with his speed and athleticism but lacking consistent production as a receiver or ball-carrier.
Belichick hopes to change that.
During an appearance Wednesday on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” Patterson recalled the first conversation he had with the Patriots coach after the trade was completed.
“He was just telling me, ‘I don’t know what you’ve been through in the past, but we get the job done here,’ ” Patterson said. “‘We’re going to make you the player that you should be.’ ”
Shortly after joining the Patriots, Patterson traveled to Foxboro to meet with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who will dictate how often the 27-year-old will have the ball in his hands this season.
“I just basically told him, ‘Just put me on the field. It’ll take care of itself,’ ” Patterson said. “That’s something I’ve been doing my whole life — making plays, playmaker. I don’t like when someone tries to label me as this and that. I just go out there and do what I’m supposed to do and have fun while I’m doing it.”
Patterson will have to compete with several other wide receivers for a roster spot this summer, but his ability as a kick returner — where he is a two-time All-Pro — gives him a leg up on the likes of Phillip Dorsett and Kenny Britt. After playing in just one playoff gave over his first five seasons, he naturally was thrilled to join a perennial Super Bowl contender.
“I got a call from my agent, and he was like, ‘You’re getting traded to the Patriots,’ ” Patterson said on “Good Morning Football.” “I was like, ‘Stop lying.’ He was like, ‘No, I’m serious.’ So I was like, ‘OK, let’s go.’ I was excited. They make it to the Super Bowl almost every year … so it was an exciting feeling to me.”
