There is a photo illustration floating around social media which depicts Patrick Peterson alone on a dirt road as a tumbleweed blows past him.
The message: Life can be boring as a shutdown cornerback.
As Peterson has re-established himself as one of the NFL’s top cover men, opposing quarterbacks have become increasingly hesitant to throw his way. He saw 65 targets this year, 25 fewer than in any other season of his career, per Pro Football Focus.
In the football offshoot of Newton’s third law of motion, there is this reality: Any pass not thrown to one half the field will go to the other.