Many football fans remember that Marvin Harrison was the one who caught the first touchdown pass of Peyton Manning's career. It's less likely, but they might also remember that Rick Parros caught John Elway's first one and that Sterling Sharpe was the recipient of Brett Favre's first.
Someday, will fans remember — or have a reason to remember — that Cordarrelle Patterson was the Vikings wide receiver who caught the first touchdown pass of Teddy Bridgewater's NFL career?
Today, Patterson didn't seem to care whether he will be the answer to that trivia question someday.
"It might be in 20 years of whatever," Patterson said. "We really don't know."
With the Vikings sitting at 2-5, Patterson has more important things to worry about this week. But he did acknowledge that it was a special moment for Bridgewater. Patterson wanted to keep the ball after this four-yard touchdown reception in the loss to the Bills, but he gave it up to the rookie.
"I gave Teddy the ball. I wish I could have kept it, but I gave it to him," he said. "That's the right thing to do, to give that young guy his ball and hats off to Teddy. I hope we get many more this week."
Patterson didn't say why he wanted the ball so badly. Sure, it was his first touchdown catch of the season. But he had four of them last season and has now scored 11 total touchdowns in the NFL.
He hoped a compromise could reached, but then he had a King Solomonesque moment of clarity.
