JUNE 5, 8:28 P.M.PHILADELPHIA – Perry Patterson might not be the next Donovan McNabb, but at least for the next week and a half the two former Syracuse signal callers will share time on the same field. That’s because Patterson signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday hours before the team convened for Organized Team Activities (OTAs) that will run through next Friday.

Terms of the deal were undisclosed, but the Lancaster, Pa., native was on the practice field Tuesday afternoon, wearing No. 7.

‘This is one of the teams that was really interested in me,’ Patterson said. ‘Coach Robinson and my agent have been keeping in touch with the coaching staff here. They bought me in and they’re basically going to see how things work out the next two weeks. Basically they just want to see if I belong.’

A three-year starter at SU and a captain his senior season in 2006, Patterson finished his Syracuse career fourth all-time in passing yards (5,220) and third in career completions (456) and pass attempts (862).

Yet those numbers didn’t entice too many suitors prior to the draft. Patterson said he had spoken with Philadelphia, Atlanta, Cleveland and Buffalo, but interest from all three cooled following the draft. The Eagles threw Patterson a lifeline when they invited him for a workout on Monday and saw enough to offer the former Orange quarterback a deal.

With three active quarterbacks on the roster, Patterson received relatively few reps in his first practice Tuesday. In fact, Patterson saw no snaps in 7-on-7 or full-team drills, spending most of the practice working on hand-offs or short passes with the running backs.

Having already missed two weeks of organized camps, Patterson is considerably behind his new counterparts.

‘I didn’t get as many reps today because it was my first day but tomorrow they’re going to start working me in,’ Patterson said. ‘They told me the situation before I came in. They got to get guys ready now. It’s not like they have time to mold me into the system.’

In signing with Philadelphia, Patterson has an opportunity to learn from McNabb, a player who Patterson described as ‘one of the reasons I went to Syracuse.’ Patterson spent the day soaking up information from McNabb, who is sidelined currently recovering from a torn ACL but was out on the field with the rest of the quarterbacks.

‘We spoke about (former Syracuse) Coach (Paul Pasqualoni) and had a few laughs about the coaching staff and things like that,’ Patterson said. ‘He was telling me about some of his experiences back at school. It was all fun. He’s helping out there making sure everything’s not spinning in my head. He teaches me and lets me know what’s going on.’

Whether or not Patterson has a future in Philadelphia beyond those two weeks is uncertain. In signing with Philadelphia, Patterson will be competing at one of the Eagles deepest positions. Just one month ago, Philadelphia spent its top draft pick (36th overall) on a quarterback-former Houston standout Kevin Kolb. That pick was perhaps the main reason the Eagles backed off Patterson immediately following the draft. Besides McNabb, the Eagles also have two proven veteran quarterbacks in Kelly Holcomb and A.J. Feeley.

In short, the Eagles quarterback situation was crowded even before Patterson arrived.

All that considered, Patterson is undoubtedly a long shot to stick around in Philadelphia. Even so, Patterson is approaching his situation with a sense of optimism. Patterson at least has his foot in the door now, and if his tryout with the Eagles doesn’t work out, he knows it could lead to an opportunity someplace else.

‘You never what’s going to happen,’ Patterson said. ‘Nothing is set in stone. Guys get hurt and end up getting cut, free agents come in and start. It’s a weird business so you just got to be ready.

‘As long as I can get in the game some time and have some game film, whether here or anywhere else I’ll be able to show teams I can play at this level.’

Published on June 23, 2007 at 12:00 pm