Feb. 24, 2010
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Former Western Carolina wide receiver David Patten was re-signed by the New England Patriots today, a team in which he had won three Super Bowl rings with during his professional career.
Patten, 35, last played with New Orleans in 2008 despite being on the pre-season roster with the Cleveland Browns a season ago. With the Saints in '08, Patten appeared in five games and had 11 receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown. In 2007, Patten had enjoyed a nice comeback season by hauling in 54 passes for 792 yards and three touchdowns.
A native of Columbia, S.C., who played at Western Carolina from 1992-95, Patten played on all three of the Patriots' Super Bowl-winning teams. During his previous four-year tenure with New England, Patten caught 165 passes for 2,513 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular season and added 15 receptions for 174 yards with two touchdowns in the postseason.
The best season of his 12-year career also came in New England in 2004, when he had 800 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
One of Patten's career highlights came in 2001 when he became the first player in New England franchise history - and only the sixth player in the NFL since 1960 at the time it occurred - to record a touchdown pass, touchdown reception and rush for a touchdown in one game (at Indianapolis, 10/21/01). He completed a 60-yard touchdown pass, caught two touchdown passes (91 and six yards) and rushed for a 29-yard score.
Prior to Patten accomplishing the feet, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton was the last player to accomplish the feat on Oct. 21, 1979 vs. Minnesota.
Patten, who was not drafted out in 1995 and spent time working in a landscaping business, as an electrician and hauling 75-pound bags in a coffee bean factory until joining the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League, started his career with the Giants in 1997. He has additionally had career stops with the Browns, Patriots, Redskins and Saints.
While in Cullowhee and playing alongside former Catamount standout Craig Aiken, Patten led WCU in receiving in 1995 with 59 receptions - the 11th-most in a single season - for 881 yards.
Elsewhere, former Western Carolina second team All-America selection Eddie Cohen has joined the Columbus (Ga.) Lions of the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL), reuniting with former signal caller, Todd Spitzer.
Cohen set a WCU single-season receiving record with 1,208 yards and nine touchdowns in 2007, garnering second team All-America honors from both the Associated Press and The Sports Network. He became just the ninth Catamount receiver all-time to break 1,000-yard plateau earning him a first-team All-Southern Conference selection.
Cohen and Spitzer hooked up for many big plays numerous times during the 2007 season including an 82-yard touchdown reception at Appalachian State, the longest scoring play in the SoCon that season. Cohen concluded his Catamount career with 142 catches, 2,173 yards, and 15 touchdowns.
In 2008, Cohen saw limited action with the CFL's Hamilton Tigers grabbing 15 receptions for 197 yards and one touchdown.
Columbus opens play in 2010 on March 27.
ADDITION: Former Catamount defensive lineman Rico Reese has also signed to play in the re-vamped Arena Football League, which was re-formed over the past couple of months. Reese has signed with the Tulsa (Ok.) Talons, formerly of the arenafootball2 league.
Other Catamounts currently playing professional football in 2010:
Carlton Bailey, Green Bay Blizzard - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Darius Fudge, Wichita Wild - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Mike Malone, Green Bay Blizzard - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Lamont Reid, Wichita Wild - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Rico Reese, Tulsa Talons - Arena Football League (AFL)
Todd Spitzer, Columbus Lions - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Eddie Cohen, Columbus Lions - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
