Patten still enjoys the grind

06.29.2009

During the very first drill of the very first day of the Browns' spring practice sessions, David Patten made sure to welcome rookie second-rounders Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi to jump in line with him and learn.

With him, not in front of him. Not yet.

Patten is the new guy who's anything but new. He's a 13-year veteran who played with the Browns back in 2000, which was before Robiskie moved to the Cleveland area to play high school ball. Patten then moved on to New England, where he won three Super Bowls, and also played with the Redskins and Saints over the last four seasons before signing with the Browns in March.

It's been a pretty good run for an undersized guy who played college football at Western Carolina and broke into pro football in 1996 with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena League.

"Blessing -- that's the operative word," Patten said. "That's the word. I've been very blessed. This game is so grueling, so physical. (Lasting this long) comes down to doing the small things day in and day out.

Watch Zac Jackson's interview with David Patten as part of the New Player Profile series

"It's been a long road. In the early going there were a lot of disappointments, a lot of frustrations. But I always had that self drive, self confidence, the faith not to allow opinions of others to sway me one way or other. The bottom line is perseverance, stay to it, being committed.

"Here 13 years later I'm still having the last laugh."

About standing in that line for those drills, the same ones he's been doing since the Giants saw him play in Albany and gave him a shot way back in 1997. He thought last year might be his last for those drills, those reps, those chances to interact with young players blessed with more natural gifts - and better opportunities - than Patten ever had.

But it was what happens on Sunday, the culmination of all that work and all those lessons, that brought him back.

"Sunday morning, that's what drives me," Patten said. "When I lose that feeling, that's when it's time to go. I thought I'd retire last year. Being through some injuries and adversity, I thought it was over. But when the season was over and I watched the playoffs it all came back. The fire started burning again.

"I told my wife, ‘Baby, I can't quit yet.' So here I am."

So here he is, 324 catches, 4,715 yards and 24 touchdowns later. Here he is, back with the Browns.

"That's why you never say never," Patten said. "I never thought I'd be back, but I am.

"And I didn't come here to collect another check. I came to try to win another championship. That's why I play. I've made enough money, played enough games. But I remember watching Tom Brady get asked about the Super Bowl and which one was the sweetest one. And he said the sweetest one is the next one. That's why I'm back, chasing after the next one."

Patten hopes he can help the Browns' offense with catches of his own, but he understands his most important role could be helping Robiskie and Massaquoi make a successful transition to the NFL. He'll be talking, and he thinks they'll be listening.

And maybe, just maybe, he'll pick a day and let the rooks jump in front of him in that receivers' line.

"I want those guys to hopefully one day in the future make it to the Pro Bowl or the Hall of Fame and I want them to say, ‘David Patten is the best teammate I ever had,'" he said. "Not only teammate but the best friend I had.

"I still have my personal goals and dreams. But my number one goal is to push those guys and realize that potential. I was always taught the more you push someone, the higher they go and higher you go. One thing I can say about my time in New England is we always had that sense of oneness and support and encouragement it was a time.

"Cleveland, it's as good as any place to ride this thing out. I'm committed to this team, this coaching staff, these players. I can't guarantee what the future holds but I will guarantee I will give you everything I have."

And those rookies standing behind him will be watching.