Arizona Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson apologizes for requesting trade

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson on Wednesday used the notorious 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale to apologize for requesting a trade away from the team during this past season.

Peterson grabbed a microphone following his tee shot during the Pro-Am at the Waste Management Open and announced to the crowd he was sorry for the trade request and reaffirmed that Arizona is his home.

“I just want to apologize to everybody for asking for that trade in the middle of the season,” Peterson said. “I’m here to stay, baby.”

The announcement got a hearty cheer from the folks in the crowd and a man in the background of the video can be heard yelling, “he’s staying!”

Patrick Peterson (@P2) apologizes for his mid-season trade request and says he’s “here to stay” with the @AZCardinals. pic.twitter.com/lD5RlaDz2r

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) January 30, 2019

Peterson, who has made the Pro Bowl in each of his eight NFL seasons, was the subject of speculation in October after reportedly wanting out of Arizona by way of a trade.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who first reported that Peterson asked for a trade, reported at the time that Peterson met with Cardinals president Michael Bidwill for 30 minutes to discuss his future.

Former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks went on to say the team wasn’t going to trade Peterson and 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 Bryant 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.

Peterson addressed those reports 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.”

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