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Atlantic native Mike Peterson gets his shot with the Green Bay Packers
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Former Trojans and Northwest Missouri State standout tight end inks free agent deal with NFL's most legendary franchise
By Drew Herron
NT Sports Editor
ATLANTIC- Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Brett Favre, Bart Starr and maybe...Mike Peterson.
The former Atlantic back who took an indirect route towards becoming a two-time All-American tight end at Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State will get his shot to play another underdog role, this time stepping up to the scale of the National Football League.
Peterson signed a free agent rookie contract this week with the Green Bay Packers, one of 13 undrafted players signed by the Pack through a flurried stretch Sunday night and into Monday.
Projected as perhaps a second day pick in last weekend's seven-round spring draft, Peterson went undrafted, but not unnoticed, as 14 teams expressed interest and one locked in by Monday morning.
As he sat in Atlantic and waited with his parents over the final days leading up to the unfolding of the draft, Peterson closed the book on a hectic and stressful five months and is ready to open a new one. Peterson left Thursday for Green Bay where rookie camp and orientation wait for him. For the 6-foot-2 and 251 pound tight end, he couldn't be more excited to put on a Green Bay Packers helmet.
"The visit there was just incredible," Peterson said of his time in Green Bay. "The tight end coach had a lot of film broken down on me and they appeared to have spent a lot of time on me."
Life with the Green Bay Packers:
Peterson's chances of making a living playing football are well within reason. The Packers have just two rostered tight ends and a lack of depth with the departure of three time Pro Bowler Bubba Franks-who recently defected to the New York Jets via free agency-making for an open race at tight end for the Packers.
The Pack drafted Texas tight end Jermichael Finley in the third round and brought in fellow TE free agent signee Joey Haynos from Maryland. Peterson fits in between the other twice size wise, but with a 40-yard dash time of 4.59, Peterson burns them all away with his speed.
Several scouts and teams wanted to convert to him to a full back. It's a position Peterson says he wouldn't mind playing if given a chance, but feels his best opportunity would be stay at tight end.
"It just felt like a good fit for me," Peterson said. "A few other teams wanted me to switch but I've been playing tight end for four years and I am a lot more familiar with it and I am going to give it a shot."
He added, "Too bad Brett Favre isn't there anymore, I'd love to catch a ball from him."
A road less traveled:
Kurt Warner, Priest Holmes, Rod Smith, Tony Romo, Antonio Gates, Wes Welker, Willie Parker, Wayne Chrebet...all Pro-Bowlers who entered the league as undrafted rookie free agents coming into the league with uncelebrated fanfare.
Super Bowl and League MVPs Terrell Davis from Denver and Tom Brady from New England were drafted quietly in the sixth rounds before they began to climb the ladder.
Unorthodox means about football isn't an alien concept to Peterson, who went from forklift driver to walk-on All-American in a short stretch of time four years ago. His improbable situation began with about a year spent soul-searching about his future and ended with an unshakable calling for football and its physical nature.
Peterson left Atlantic after graduating in 2001 to play baseball at DMACC, but his heart wasn't in it, and a long spring schedule got old quick.
"It was just back to back to back," he said. "I thought this isn't fun, maybe I'll go out it the real world for a while and work."
His entry into the real world meant 18 months working as a forklift driver at a hardware store in Atlantic and another in Council Bluffs.
One day during an intramural flag football game while attending Iowa Western, the squad Peterson's team was scheduled to play was a no show, and after the referees awarded a forfeit and left, a tackle football game broke out. It re-ignited something, he said.
"I thought, why not try it, I miss it too much," Peterson says.
From there, his was in contact with Northwest coach Mel Tjeerdsma, who offered a tryout. The tryout led to a shot to walk on, which led to a job at fourth string tight end in spring ball to starter by week three six months later.
Closing the book on an unlikely college career:
By the time Peterson finished his eligibility in Maryville after a historic career, he was a graduate student and a man among boys. He acknowledges his age might be a deterrent to some teams, but plans to prove he has a "motor that doesn't quit."
"I am 25 years-old and they look at 22-year-old guys because they think they can develop them," Peterson says. "But I am going to pick up that system faster than anyone and I'm 25 right now...I'm ready to go hit facemasks with the best of them."
Five tight ends and four likely jobs someplace along the food chain that involves the practice squad will be divvied out.
"I'm going in there believing I can make the final roster," he said. "Be it second team or third team or special teams. Whatever they want me to do, I'll do it."
Waiting it out and moving forward:
Peterson spent the last few months of training in hard preparation, heading to Columbus, Ohio where he worked with a trainer who implement a new combination of lifting that involves chains and bands helped create explosive strength.
From the time he left to when he returned to Maryville, his 225 pound bench press repetitions-the standard measurement of strength by NFL scouts-increased from 18 reps to 27.
In June, he'll be in Green Bay for Organized Team Activities with camp to begin in August followed by the preseason and the season. Peterson plans to be there for a while.
"The Packers have a great history and they're a great organization," Peterson said. "The atmosphere there is unbelievable. I'm excited to go there, I'm excited to start this next phase of my life."
By Drew Herron
NT Sports Editor
ATLANTIC- Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Brett Favre, Bart Starr and maybe...Mike Peterson.
The former Atlantic back who took an indirect route towards becoming a two-time All-American tight end at Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State will get his shot to play another underdog role, this time stepping up to the scale of the National Football League.
Peterson signed a free agent rookie contract this week with the Green Bay Packers, one of 13 undrafted players signed by the Pack through a flurried stretch Sunday night and into Monday.
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As he sat in Atlantic and waited with his parents over the final days leading up to the unfolding of the draft, Peterson closed the book on a hectic and stressful five months and is ready to open a new one. Peterson left Thursday for Green Bay where rookie camp and orientation wait for him. For the 6-foot-2 and 251 pound tight end, he couldn't be more excited to put on a Green Bay Packers helmet.
"The visit there was just incredible," Peterson said of his time in Green Bay. "The tight end coach had a lot of film broken down on me and they appeared to have spent a lot of time on me."
Life with the Green Bay Packers:
Peterson's chances of making a living playing football are well within reason. The Packers have just two rostered tight ends and a lack of depth with the departure of three time Pro Bowler Bubba Franks-who recently defected to the New York Jets via free agency-making for an open race at tight end for the Packers.
The Pack drafted Texas tight end Jermichael Finley in the third round and brought in fellow TE free agent signee Joey Haynos from Maryland. Peterson fits in between the other twice size wise, but with a 40-yard dash time of 4.59, Peterson burns them all away with his speed.
Several scouts and teams wanted to convert to him to a full back. It's a position Peterson says he wouldn't mind playing if given a chance, but feels his best opportunity would be stay at tight end.
"It just felt like a good fit for me," Peterson said. "A few other teams wanted me to switch but I've been playing tight end for four years and I am a lot more familiar with it and I am going to give it a shot."
He added, "Too bad Brett Favre isn't there anymore, I'd love to catch a ball from him."
A road less traveled:
Kurt Warner, Priest Holmes, Rod Smith, Tony Romo, Antonio Gates, Wes Welker, Willie Parker, Wayne Chrebet...all Pro-Bowlers who entered the league as undrafted rookie free agents coming into the league with uncelebrated fanfare.
Super Bowl and League MVPs Terrell Davis from Denver and Tom Brady from New England were drafted quietly in the sixth rounds before they began to climb the ladder.
Unorthodox means about football isn't an alien concept to Peterson, who went from forklift driver to walk-on All-American in a short stretch of time four years ago. His improbable situation began with about a year spent soul-searching about his future and ended with an unshakable calling for football and its physical nature.
Peterson left Atlantic after graduating in 2001 to play baseball at DMACC, but his heart wasn't in it, and a long spring schedule got old quick.
"It was just back to back to back," he said. "I thought this isn't fun, maybe I'll go out it the real world for a while and work."
His entry into the real world meant 18 months working as a forklift driver at a hardware store in Atlantic and another in Council Bluffs.
One day during an intramural flag football game while attending Iowa Western, the squad Peterson's team was scheduled to play was a no show, and after the referees awarded a forfeit and left, a tackle football game broke out. It re-ignited something, he said.
"I thought, why not try it, I miss it too much," Peterson says.
From there, his was in contact with Northwest coach Mel Tjeerdsma, who offered a tryout. The tryout led to a shot to walk on, which led to a job at fourth string tight end in spring ball to starter by week three six months later.
Closing the book on an unlikely college career:
By the time Peterson finished his eligibility in Maryville after a historic career, he was a graduate student and a man among boys. He acknowledges his age might be a deterrent to some teams, but plans to prove he has a "motor that doesn't quit."
"I am 25 years-old and they look at 22-year-old guys because they think they can develop them," Peterson says. "But I am going to pick up that system faster than anyone and I'm 25 right now...I'm ready to go hit facemasks with the best of them."
Five tight ends and four likely jobs someplace along the food chain that involves the practice squad will be divvied out.
"I'm going in there believing I can make the final roster," he said. "Be it second team or third team or special teams. Whatever they want me to do, I'll do it."
Waiting it out and moving forward:
Peterson spent the last few months of training in hard preparation, heading to Columbus, Ohio where he worked with a trainer who implement a new combination of lifting that involves chains and bands helped create explosive strength.
From the time he left to when he returned to Maryville, his 225 pound bench press repetitions-the standard measurement of strength by NFL scouts-increased from 18 reps to 27.
In June, he'll be in Green Bay for Organized Team Activities with camp to begin in August followed by the preseason and the season. Peterson plans to be there for a while.
"The Packers have a great history and they're a great organization," Peterson said. "The atmosphere there is unbelievable. I'm excited to go there, I'm excited to start this next phase of my life."
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