Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson still fuming about All-Pro snub

Patrick Peterson is as mad as hell and no, intercepting two passes in Sunday’s Pro Bowl didn’t make him feel the least bit better about having been snubbed in balloting for the Associated Press All-Pro first and second team.

“No, that definitely didn’t make up for not making the All-Pro team because All-Pro is something I put all my hard work and effort towards throughout the week and throughout the season, to receive that nomination,” the Cardinals cornerback told azcentral sports on Monday.

“So no, (Sunday’s) game definitely didn’t make up for it. But I’ve got another year to do it and I’ll be working even harder this year to make sure I don’t miss it in 2018.”

Peterson, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time first-team All-Pro, said the disrespect he feels is real. It’s why he sent out this now-famous tweet about the snub: “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If a ball isn’t thrown your way, do ‘experts’ take notice?”

“It’s true,” Peterson said. “Oh, this has definitely put a chip on my shoulder, for sure. I mean, honestly, what more can I do? I don’t get the ball thrown to me. I’m the least targeted. I give up the least catches. What more can I do?

“What, I’ve got to put a billboard up that says, ‘Try me?’ or something like that? I may have to, I don’t know. I may have to channel my inner Deion (Sanders).”

An All-Pro selection lost is an All-Pro selection not gained and like Sanders, who garnered eight first-team All-Pro nods during his Hall of Fame career, Peterson wants to stack together as many as he can before he’s finished.

According to ProFootballFocus.com, Peterson allowed just 26 receptions on 60 targets for 394 yards and four touchdowns in 2017. His 21.2 cover snaps per receptions were second-best among NFL cornerbacks.

“I definitely feel (disrespected) at times because I’ve been doing what I do as long as probably anybody in the league,” Peterson said. “The only guy I’d probably say that has done it as long or longer is a guy I definitely look up to and always watch his games, Darrelle Revis.

“He did it week in, week out for years since he was a rookie. I did the same exact same thing since day one and it seems as though when I don’t give up catches or I don’t give up big plays, it’s like, ‘Oh, he’s supposed to do that.’ But if I happen to give up a big play it’s front page. It’s like, ‘What’s wrong?’ You know what I mean?”

Peterson went on, saying the snub “kind of works with my nerves,” but insisting “it’s not going to stop me from grinding.”

“No, it’s not going to stop me from putting in that work because at the end of the day, I know what I mean to the game,” he said. “I know what these young DBs are saying to me each and every week after games. I’m one of those guys that they look up to. It’s just other people really need to look deeper in to the game, really, really watch film. Don’t watch stats. You know, look at the game.”

Now that the Cardinals have a new head coach in Steve Wilks, a new defensive coordinator in Al Holcomb and a new secondary coach in Dave Merritt, Peterson has an idea. He said he plans to sit down with all three of them and discuss ways to get him more involved in pass-coverage situations, although he’s not completely sure how that can or will happen.

“You never know, maybe I can be more involved in the game plan,” he said. “Maybe they ought to move me around now. Obviously, I don’t get targets anymore. I don’t know what the plans are going be for this year, but those are going to be some of the things I’m definitely going to talk to coach about, for sure.”

So far, Peterson has had a couple of conversations with Wilks, the former defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. Based on those talks and things he has heard from others, including players who have worked with Wilks in the past, Peterson likes everything he knows about Bruce Arians’ replacement.

“I think it’s a great addition to the Arizona Cardinals organization, for sure,” he said. “I had a chance to talk some people at the Pro Bowl and they gave me the ins and out about how Coach Wilks operates and I heard nothing but great things about him. I’m looking for great things out of this coming year.”

Peterson said he hasn’t spoken lately with teammate Tyrann Mathieu and how the safety might be asked to restructure his contract by the Cardinals.

“That’s something that’s between him and his agent and the organization,” Peterson said. “I wish him nothing but the best, whatever happens. I think he’ll eventually get that situation resolved.”

In the meantime, Peterson is trying to move past his All-Pro snub by getting in some golf and focusing on his participation in Wednesday’s Waste Management Phoenix Open Annexus Pro-Am at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

“I’m in it to win it, baby,” Peterson boasted.

On Thursday, he will fly to Minneapolis and spend the rest of the week as a social media correspondent for AT&T AUDIENCE Sports, conducting interviews with celebrities and athletes while also taking viewers behind the scenes at some of the plushest pre-Super Bowl parties and events, including the DIRECTV NOW Super Saturday Night Party.

“Hey, the season never stops moving for P2 Nation,” Peterson said, laughing. “J.Lo (Jennifer Lopez) is going to be there and I definitely plan to talk with her, a bunch of other A-list celebrities.”

Peterson said he will be “dressed to impress” despite the frigid temperatures expected in Minnesota. As for Super Bowl LII itself between the Patriots and Eagles, he offers no prediction.

“I’m just hoping it’s going to be a good one,” Peterson said.

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Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Wednesday night between 7-9 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.