Patrick Peterson is looking to be the first 2011 first round pick to sign a new contract. When he saw that Richard Sherman got $56M/4yrs with $40M guaranteed, he knew the bar was set. He believes he is worth more than Sherman:
“We’ll see,” Peterson said. “Got to ask the Cardinals. I mean, I think I am but at the end of the day both sides have to agree to terms and we’ll see what those terms are and hopefully sooner than later.”
“I think cornerbacks are definitely worth the dollars that they get because now this league is a passing league,” Peterson said. “You need that shutdown corner to lock down one side of the field, or like myself, go out there the entire field.”
Peterson does also say that he doesn’t see himself leaving the Cardinals so he will likely get his mega-deal from them. The question is, should he? Sherman has 57 pass deflections and 20 INTs to Peterson’s 42 deflections and 12 INTs. I’m in the camp that says we greatly exaggerate Peterson’s impact because the Cardinals toy with lining him up on offense. I like his confidence but I’d take a hard line with him if I was Arizona and make him show and prove this year before handing him a Sherman deal.