Arizona Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson issues statement on trade request
Oct 24, 2018, 10:57 AM | Updated: 12:14 pm
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson takes part in an NFL training session at the London Irish rugby team training ground in the Sunbury-onThames suburb of south west London, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for an NFL regular season game against the Los Angeles Rams at London's Wembley stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson has been the subject of speculation recently as the All-Pro is reportedly wanting out of Arizona by way of a trade.
Peterson addressed those reports on Wednesday by issuing a statement on Twitter.
“I’ve been incredibly frustrated with how the season has gone,” he wrote. “But my energy is 100% focused on being part of the solution and helping us turn this around. I’ve never shied away from a challenge before and I’m not starting now. I have always given my all to the Cardinals organization, my teammates and fans. That is what I intend to do for the years to come. I am an Arizona Cardinal, and my focus is on this weeks game.”
The statement, which was posted as text within a graphic image, was captioned by Peterson with, simply, “My statement.”
My statement. pic.twitter.com/FG8R7Fa0YA
— Patrick Peterson /P2 (@P2) October 24, 2018
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who first reported that Peterson asked for a trade, reported Wednesday that Peterson met with Cardinals president Michael Bidwill on Tuesday for 30 minutes.
Head coach Steve Wilks said Monday, “Oh, no. We’re not trading Patrick. That’s out of the question.” 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro tweeted that day that the Cardinals would not trade their star defensive back.
CBS Sports analyst Byrant McFadden, a former NFL cornerback who also happens to be Peterson’s cousin, said the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles were the teams that were most aggressive in pursuing Peterson. The Saints, however, went on to trade for cornerback Eli Apple from the New York Giants.
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McFadden also told Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station that Peterson, while wanting out of Arizona, would still continue to fight for his teammates and play hard in practice.
“Speaking about the individual, which is Pat Peterson, his day-to-day process will not change,” McFadden said. “I don’t think this will change anything as far as his process. He still wants to win. If the trade is not granted, if the request is not made, he will continue to compete at a high level. He will continue to motivate the other teammates that are there. At the end of the day, he’s a competitor, he loves to compete.”
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 30.
