The new Jets corner is occupying what used to be a glamour position with the Jets. Just two years ago the Jets had Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, perhaps the best duo in the game at corner. Now, it’s Dee Milliner, who had a disappointing rookie season, and Patterson, a journeyman on his seventh team in 10 seasons.
“I don’t have a high-profile name, but I’ll put my film against anybody’s,” Patterson said after the Jets organized team activity on Wednesday. “That’s the reality of the situation.”
For Patterson, the comparison will be to Cromartie, whom the Jets released in March. Cromarite, who signed with the Cardinals, had a bad 2013 season, but he has a track record that includes Pro Bowls and being one of the top corners in the league when he is on his game.
Patterson, 30, had four interceptions last season for the Dolphins. He has nine in his career. The Jets signed him to a one-year, $3 million deal in April.
“In the schemes that I’ve played in I’ve been asked to do what Cromartie was asked to do,” Patterson said. “I don’t have a high profile, no. I don’t have the biggest name, no. But I’ve covered the same receivers. I’ve held up extremely well against the same receivers, the lead guys. They knew that about me.”
Cornerback is the biggest question mark on the Jets, and Patterson is not the only reason why. Milliner, the team’s first-round pick in 2013, sat out Wednesday’s OTA with tightness in his left hamstring. Injuries were a problem last year for Milliner, who missed three games and significant practice time last spring and summer.
Coach Rex Ryan already sounds annoyed Milliner has been sidelined.
“He has to understand that he has to be in extraordinary shape,” Ryan said. “His challenge is to be in world-class shape because we have to have you out there. He needs to be out there. He needs to get work because that’s how he’s going to get better.
“He’s got to step it up because I think he has all the talent in the world.”
Injuries are the biggest knock on Patterson, too. He has played just eight games over the last two seasons with the Dolphins.
The Jets are playing him on the outside right now, but he is viewed around the league as more of an inside nickel corner.
“He’s a nickel,” one league executive said. “He has good instincts and quickness. I question his deep recovery speed, but he plays with awareness and has good route feel. He’s good in zones and has ball skills. He’s ideally a third veteran with a good feel for the inside position. He’s not a great presence in run support, but tackles when he has to. Durability has been a little bit of an issue the last two seasons. So availability will be key.”
Patterson said the injury-prone rep he’s gained is not fair. He said he’s only had injuries the last two years and they were not major injuries — ankle and groin injuries.
“I look at it as the glass half full,” Patterson said. “I haven’t had a skill-diminishing injury. I haven’t had a career-threatening injury. I had an ankle [injury] and I had a groin [injury]. I bounced back from those. I feel good about where I’m at now. I will acknowledge that because those are the facts. But as far as that being a negative about me … throughout my career I have not been injury prone. The last two years? Yeah, I’ve had some unfortunate injuries. That’s just the reality of this beast.”