ARIZONA CARDINALS

Charles Woodson, Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson…Patrick Peterson?

Jun 1, 2011, 7:51 PM | Updated: 9:03 pm

The fifth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson enters the league with high expectations.

None, however, seem to be as high as the ones he is placing on himself. He told ESPN’s NFL Live that his goal is to be the best. Not the best corner, though, but the best player in the NFL.

“That’s something that me and my dad strive for each and every year,” he said. “We’re just not going to settle for being the best player at my position, we want to be the best player overall.”

The Cardinals would probably be happy if he was just the best corner in the league, as having a guy who can lockdown the opponent’s top receiver, one on one, would make defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s job much, much easier.

It would also make Peterson one of the all-time greats, placing him alongside some of the players he likens his game to.

“I would compare my talent to three different guys,” he said. “With the style of play I will go with Charles Woodson; with the swagger I’ll go with Deion Sanders; with the tenacity I’d go with Rod Woodson.

“I believe I’m a little bit of all three of those guys.”

Rod Woodson finished his hall of fame career with 71 interceptions. Deion Sanders tallied 53 before being enshrined in Canton, and Charles Woodson is up to 47 picks, a number that is sure to grow.

A combination of those three? Yes please.

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Charles Woodson, Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson…Patrick Peterson?