The Facts: After catching just two passes over 16 games a year ago, Patterson finally found himself as a complementary offensive player and not just a return specialist. Though he did not walk back on the most exciting part of his game. Patterson had a 104-yard kickoff return this year and averaged 31.7 yards per return this season. It was the third time in four years that he had at least one kickoff return for a touchdown. As soon as Patterson found a groove, though, his contract expired. The former first-round pick is now a free agent and wants to make sure that whichever team signs him plans to actually use him. "Of course, man. Two years I spent damn near on the sideline. That's never a good feeling for any player. No player wants to go through that," he said. "I need to know if I'm going to play or not. If not, I'll take my talents elsewhere."
Diehards Line:The sudden retirement of Norv Turner and promotion of Pat Shurmur to Vikings OC last season -- a role that Shurmur gained permanently this week -- finally had Patterson at ease. While he thought Turner was doing a fine job, Patterson said that Shurmur came to him personally and assured Patterson that he would see more targets. Turner left the club on Nov. 2. On Nov. 6, Patterson had a season-high eight targets. In his final nine games he had 46 targets after just 24 over the first seven. It'll be interesting to see how interested the Vikings are in keeping Patterson around to see if Shurmur can build on that.