Patrick Peterson says he's better than Richard Sherman. (USATSI)
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Patrick Peterson's good enough to, when discussing a potential new contract for the Cardinals cornerback, invoke Richard Sherman's contract discussions.
After all, Sherman set the new ceiling for star NFL cornerbacks when the Seahawks made him the highest paid defensive back in the league.
Peterson, with two years left on his rookie deal, didn't mind seeing the Sherman contract and "kind of" had a smile on his face when he saw it go down.
"I'm making OK money right now, but I'm just not making his money right now," Peterson told ESPN on Monday.
Peterson is set to make $2 million in 2014 and, as a result of the Cards picking up his fifth-year option, $10 million in 2015. Drafted with the fifth pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, Peterson's become a star cornerback after just three seasons.
He's going to get a big extension at some point and believes he's worth the money.
"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."
"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."
Now look. The headline here is that "Peterson says he's better than Sherman." But he didn't really say that, even though he did.
If he'd brashly put down Sherman and declared himself the best it would be one thing. But this still has the potential to blow up if and when Sherman responds.
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WR Andre Johnson ponders his future with Texans
Nobody made a big stink out of Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson missing the team's voluntary workouts last week. I mean, what is an 11-year veteran going to gain from voluntary workouts? Well, the Texans have a new head coach installing a new offensive scheme, but still, there will be plenty of time for Johnson to catch up on all of that stuff. No worries, right?Well ... It seems now that Johnson's absence wasn't as harmless as it initially looked. In part, it seems like it was a message by Johnson to convey his frustration with the state of the team. Johnson spoke to the media Tuesday and openly questioned his future with the only NFL franchise he's ever played for."Nobody's been here as long as I have," Johnson said via Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. "You just kind of look at things; I've been thinking about things this offseason. And I just kind of wonder sometimes, 'Is this still the place for me?'"Johnson added that the Texans' history of losing and most recent offseason have been "very frustrating," and at this point in his career -- he turns 33 in July -- he's not in favor of the Texans going through another rebuilding period under another head coach."When you bring a new coach in, you go through a rebuilding process," Johnson said. "Some people say it's not. Some people say it's a quick fix. Everybody has their own opinion. But I've been through the situation more than once."Johnson is under contract through 2016 and said he won't attend OTAs or the Texans' upcoming mandatory mini-camp. So what is his future with the team?"I'm just taking some time, thinking about some things," Johnson said. "You know, when I make my decision I'll make my decision and go from there."
Those words must be distressing for any Texans fan. But Johnson has pretty much always been a team-first guy -- aside from some moments of visual frustration on the field that all competitors express at one time or another. He isn't happy with the team's situation at quarterback. He isn't happy with the prospect of another possible rebuild. His clock is ticking, and he knows it. But it is only May, and Johnson is still under contract. As we close in on training camp, I'm sure head coach Bill O'Brien will have some long discussions with Johnson and get him to buy in. I totally understand Johnson's unhappiness, but I don't expect it to impact his playing status this fall.
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