THN will be profiling over a dozen players in the weeks leading up to the Washington Redskins 2005 Training Camp. As with any modern-day NFL offseason, many new faces have come to town. Leading off our profiles is new wide receiver David Patten.
Number: 80 Position: WR Height: 5'10" Weight. 190 School: Western Carolina Major: Social Work Hometown: Hopkins, SC Birthday: 08/19/1974
How Acquired: David Patten joined the Redskins on March 3, 2005 when he signed a 5-year, $13 million contract, including a $3.5 million signing bonus.
Professional Career: Patten, known as Dooley amongst his teammates,comes to the Redskins after spending the past four seasons with the New England Patriots. Patten brings much needed leadership to the Redskins receiving corps.
In addition to his three Super Bowl rings, Patten also left New England with decent numbers as a role-player in the Charlie Weis offense. Patten gained 2,513 yards, scoring 16 touchdowns in 54 games, including 44 starts. Last season, Patten had a career year with 800 yards on just 44 receptions for a career-best 18.2 yards per catch average.
Patten entered the league in 1997. He spent the 1996 season with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League and the 1995 season working as a landscaper, an electrician and a coffee bean factory worker until the New York Giants signed him as a free agent. Patten spent three years with the
Giants, playing in 44 games (starting 3) and racking up 460 yards and 3 touchdowns.
"Dooley" spent the next season with the Cleveland Browns, starting in 11 of his 14 appearances. Patten put up 546 yards, with 19 first downs and 1 touchdown before signing with the Patriots the following season.
Collegiate Career: When David Patten left Western Carolina in 1995 where he was ninth on the schools career touchdown list at 14. As a senior in 1995, Patten ranked eighth in Division I-AA in receptions with 59, and ninth in the nation in receiving yards with 881. He also led the conference in both
receptions per game at 5.9 and receiving yards at 88.7 per game -- stats good enough to garner Patten All-Southern Conference honors.
High School Career: David Patten attended Lower Richland High in Hopkins, SC, where he not only excelled in football, but also won the Regional
Wrestling Championship. Patten teamed with quarterback Pokey Reese (now a Boston Red Sox infielder) to lead the team to the state playoffs in
"Dooley's" junior season. The Diamonds returned to the state semi-finals in 1992, Patten's senior season.
Outlook: Patten comes to the Redskins looking for a chance to prove himself. "Eight years I've been working for this opportunity and my goal is to come out and set the league on fire. The biggest thing is opportunity. And that's what has been given to me here," Patten said at the recent mini-camp held at Redskins Park.
The veteran receiver will compete with newly acquired receivers Santana Moss and Kevin Dyson, as well as returning players Taylor Jacobs, James Thrash and Darnerien McCants for the starting spot. With Patten's speed and experience, he could have a breakout season in Joe Gibbs' vertical passing attack.
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