The Washington Redskins announced today they have agreed to terms with wide receiver David Patten. Patten is an experienced and productive receiver that has the speed and work ethic that will bolster the team's receiving corps.
Patten, 5-10 and 190 pounds, is an eight-year NFL veteran, starting 58-of-112 games with 236 catches for 3,519 yards and 20 touchdowns. He played four seasons in New England (2001-04), one in Cleveland (2000) and his first three seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants (1997-99).
Patten was a member of the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. He has played his best football with the Patriots, appearing in 58 games with 44 starts and has caught 165 passes for 2,513 yards and 15 touchdowns in a Patriots uniform. In 2004, he set a career-high for touchdown receptions with seven.
In 2003, Patten appeared in six games with five starts before landing on injured reserve with a knee injury. In 2002, he led all Patriots receivers with five touchdown receptions and set career-highs in receptions (61) and receiving yards (824). In 2001, Patten became the first player in franchise history and only the sixth player in the NFL since 1960 to record a touchdown pass, touchdown reception and rush for a touchdown in one game (at Indianapolis).
During that game, he was also on the receiving end of the longest play from scrimmage in Patriots history when he caught a 91-yard pass from quarterback Tom Brady.
Prior to signing with the Patriots, Patten spent the 2000 season with the Cleveland Browns and was with the New York Giants from 1997-1999. Throughout his career, he appeared in 112 games with 58 starts, totaling 236 catches for 3,519 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 111 yards on 11 carries with one score. During his career, he also excelled as a kickoff returner with 109 carries for 2,253 yards.
A four-year letterman at Western Carolina, he finished his career tied for ninth on the school's career touchdown pass reception list with 14. His senior year, he ranked among the nation's top-10 receivers with 59 catches for 881 yards and received All-Southern Conference honors. Following his collegiate career in 1996, he played for the Albany Firebirds of the AFL.
