How's this for inspiration? After making the Washington Football Team's 53-man roster, Jaret Patterson was congratulated by one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.
Patterson, a Prince George's County, Md. native, continues to be one of the great success stories in the league, emerging from camp as an undrafted free agent to make his hometown Football Team.
A slight of frame back at 5-foot-8, 195 pounds, perhaps Patterson's small stature is why Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders has taken a liking to him.
Sanders, despite his size (also standing at 5-8), rushed for an incredible 15,269 yards in just 10 NFL seasons with Detroit, good for second all-time at the time of his retirement after the 1998 season, behind only Walter Payton (Sanders now ranks fourth all-time).
Averaging 1,527 rushing yards per season throughout his prolific career, Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards in his remarkable 1997 campaign, becoming the first back to eclipse the 2,000-yard threshold in a single season since Eric Dickerson in 1984. Patterson, 21, wasn't even born yet.
Luckily for Barry, Washington doesn't play the Lions this season.
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