May 3, 2012; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) gets set for a drill at the Minnesota Vikings rookie minicamp at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Every young player in the NFL needs a veteran to lean on during the early part of their careers. Former Vols receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has a pretty good mentor with the Minnesota Vikings — Greg Jennings.
While both Jennings and Patterson are new to the Vikings, Jennings brings the knowledge of a veteran that Patterson will be looking to lean on during his rookie season.
Jennings spent the first seven years of his career with the Green Bay Packers, before signing with the Vikings this off-season.
During the NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere this past week Patterson was asked what he was most looking forward to during his first season with the Vikings.
"I’m just looking forward to being under Greg Jennings’ wing, he’s a vet…I’m just ready to play under him. Every day at practice he has something good to tell me, I just take in the locker room and then think about it every night. I wake up in the morning, just ready to meet him every day at practice."
Patterson’s landing spot in Minnesota is kind of full circle for the South Carolina native. Cordarrelle grew up idolizing Randy Moss and will now wear the the same number 84 that Moss wore during his time with the Vikings.
Patterson says that Moss was a role model for him since he was little. He admits he knows he can’t do the things that Moss did, but that’s the player he tries most to emulate.
Those are some pretty big shoes to fill, Moss had one of the best rookie seasons for a receiver ever.
With Greg Jennings helping along the way and the talent that Patterson already possesses, the young receiver could end up having a rookie season that will make his idol proud.
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