Cordarrelle Patterson calls out Falcons for limiting his historic NFL flex at the Pro Bowl

Atlanta Flacons running back and return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson has issues with not being listed as a return specialist for the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl. 

Atlanta Falcons running back hybrid Cordarrelle Patterson sent out a tweet calling out the Falcons and the NFL for being listed as a running back, not a return specialist, for the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl voting.

Derrick Henry of the Tennesse Titans and Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants led the AFC and NFC in leading votes for running backs. Isiah Pacheco of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kene Nwangwu of the Minnesota Vikings led the AFC and NFC in votes for return specialists.

.Although Cordarelle Patterson is a running back, he is mainly praised for his kickoff returns and is considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history. Patterson has been vocal in the past about the NFL’s rigidity in categorizing dynamic players like Patterson, who don’t fit neatly into one category as running back, return specialist or wide receiver.

Patterson is a 4-time Pro Bowler, having been selected in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2020.

Cordarrelle Patterson makes NFL history as return specialist

In Week 11 of the 2022 season, Patterson broke the all-time NFL record for the most kickoff return touchdowns, scoring his ninth. This was Patterson’s first kickoff return since joining the Falcons in 2021.

To commemorate the historical play, Patterson’s game-worn jersey and cleats are displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Patterson was selected in the first round, with the 29th overall pick, by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2013 NFL Draft. He scored his first NFL career touchdown by returning the opening kickoff for a 105-yard kick return touchdown against the Chicago Bears in Week 2 of the 2013 NFL season. This touchdown was the first kickoff touchdown the Bears had allowed since 2007.

In Week 8 of the 2013 season, Patterson returned the opening kickoff 109 yards for a touchdown, tying the NFL record for the longest play ever. He is tied with Jamal Agnew and Antonio Cromartie, who both had 109-yard missed field goal returns, Agnew in 2021 and Cromartie in 2007.

After missing a month of playing time, Patterson currently has 566 rushing yards on 108 attempts, five rushing touchdowns, eight kickoff returns for 268 yards, and one kickoff touchdown in the 2022 season.

With his nine kickoff return touchdowns in his career, Patterson currently has 7,280 return yards on 265 kickoff returns. He averages 29.5 yards per kickoff return.

As arguably the best return specialist in the league, Patterson should have been listed as a return specialist rather than a running back.