A stout defensive tackle with great technique, Mike Patterson is perhaps one of the most underrated players on the Eagles defense. Known for his consistent play week in and week out, Patterson posted career highs in sacks (4.0) and tackles (114) in 2007, and has also led all Eagles defensive linemen in  tackles (262) since 2005. In fact, Patterson and teammate Trent Cole (103) became the first pair of Eagles defensive linemen to record 100-or-more tackles in the same season since 1991. A first round draft choice, Patterson signed a 7-year contract extension in 2006 that will keep him in Philadelphia through 2016.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Recovered a fumble on 3rd down of a goal-line stand at SF (9/24/06) and raced 98 yds. for his first career TD. It was the longest fumble return in Eagles history and tied for 6th-longest in NFL history. It was also tied for the longest among defensive linemen (Cowboys DE Greg Ellis returned a fumble 98 yds. vs. Arz. 10/3/99)
• In 2007, he and DE Trent Cole became the first pair of Eagles defensive linemen to record 100-plus tackles in a single season since 1991 (Jerome Brown, Clyde Simons, Reggie White, Mike Pitts)
• Was named to Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z's "Sleeper All-Pro Team" in 2006

2007 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Led the Eagles defensive line with a career high in tackles (114) and posted a career-high 4.0 sacks 
• Was named to USA Today's  ""All-Joe Team"" which honors the NFL players whose work doesn't necessarily show up in statistics, but is integral to the success of his football team
• Sacked Cowboys QB Tony Romo at Dal. (12/16)
• Recovered a fumble at the Giants 8-yd. line vs. NYG (12/9)
• Tied a career high with 11 tackles, and registered a sack and forced fumble in the 4th qtr. on Jason Campbell at Was. (11/11). The turnover led to a TD to put the Eagles up 33-25 with 2:15 remaining
• Sacked Brett Favre and recorded a career high in tackles (11) at GB (9/9)

2006 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Posted a career-high 82 tackles
• Was named to Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z's "Sleeper All-Pro Team"
• Set a career high with 10 tackles at Dal. (12/25/06)
• Tipped a pass by Eli Manning into the hands of Brian Dawkins for an INT at NYG (12/17/06)
• Recorded a career-high 1.5 sacks (QB Eli Manning) vs. NYG (9/17/06)

2005 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Tied for 8th among all rookie defenders in sacks (3.5). Tied for 3rd among all rookie defensive linemen and led all DTs
• Filled in as the starter in games 3-5 when RDT Darwin Walker was sidelined with a thigh contusion, and was later named a starter for the final 4 games
• Posted the first back-to-back sack games of his career with 0.5 at NYG (11/20/05 - QB Eli Manning) and 1.0 vs. GB (11/27 - QB Brett Favre)
• Sacked QB Trent Green for a 3-yd. loss, and notched 7 tackles, including 1 for a loss at KC (10/2/05)
• Started the first game of his NFL career in place of the injured Walker, and logged his first sack (QB Kerry Collins) and 1 FF vs. Oak. (9/25/05)
• Played in his first NFL game and notched 8 tackles at Atl. (9/12/05)

BIRDSEED:

• Nicknamed "The Grizzle" by his defensive linemates. "Bunkley came up with the name because he says I'm always looking rough like I just came out of the forest, like a grizzly bear. It just stuck, so I embrace it."
• Has become very interested in acting and has had several tryouts for TV shows and commercials. "It's definitely something I enjoy. I like getting into the different roles and trying to see how different people see things. It helps me keep an open mind about everything."
• Earned the nickname, "Bam-Bam," as a kid because he had an unusual history of breaking things and sometimes hurting himself. "I always used to break glass and things like that. One time I fell out of a two-story window when I was six years old. I broke my shoulder, but I was up creating havoc again soon enough."
• After attending a summer football camp in Southern California prior to his freshman year of high school with his cousin, Jorrel Knight, decided to move in with his cousin's family (Aunt L'Tanya and Uncle Freddie, a seargent in the Army) and attend Los Alamitos HS to play football. "The first year was hard, but I was still with family. I never thought about sports when I was up north. Then I started realizing what football could do for me."
• An all-state wrestler in high school, Patterson used his stout, solid body to create leverage to pin his opponents. He now uses those same techniques to help him fend off offensive linemen. "Wrestling taught me how to stay low," Patterson said. "It's the same technique as on the defensive line. You have to stay low and use your hands. I was originally an offensive lineman in high school, but as soon as football coaches saw how aggressive I was when I wrestled, they moved me over to defense."

PERSONAL:

• Single and lives in Cherry Hill, NJ
• Is the youngest child of Tyrone and Florence Patterson. Has one brother, Tyrone (a former basketball player at Sacramento City College), and two sisters, Roachelle and Knyesha
• His parents own a soul food restaurant in South Sacramento, CA, named "Touch of Class," located on Stockton Blvd.
• Has a Siberian husky named Chaos
• Earned All-America honors as a senior at Los Alamitos HS, recording 94 tackles, 7 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss
• Also participated in wrestling, shot put, and discus
• Purchased a four-wheeler in 2007 and enjoys riding trails in New Jersey with fellow Eagles lineman Juqua Parker
• Vactioned in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., in 2007
• Races remote control cars. He owns two gas trucks and an electric helicopter
• Loves old school cars and wants to start a collection. His favorite car is the 1970 Chevy Chevelle
• Enjoys watching Japanese animation and owns over 100 dvds. "It's something I've liked since high school. I started watching Dragon Ball-Z and then I just got hooked."
• In his first part-time job, was a cook at Los Alamitos Army Base for two summers, where his uncle was a sergeant. Eventually, wants to go to culinary school. His favorite style of food to cook is "home-style breakfast food"
• Enjoys playing golf after picking it up as a rookie in Philadelphia. His Eagles playing partner is LG Todd Herremans
• Owns a large collection of suspense movies and feels he would be a good movie critic. His favorite movie is "The Usual Suspects"
• Enjoys watching the Sacramento Kings
• Majored in sociology
• Full name: Michael Antonio Patterson

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS:
A dominant presence in the middle of the defensive line, he helped USC win back-to-back National Championships in 2003 and 2004. NBC Sports football analyst Pat Haden had a unique way to describe his style of play, "Mike Patterson is like hair in the sink. He just kind of clogs things up." A three-year starter for the two-time National Champions, posted 146 tackles, 21.5 sacks, 46 stops for a loss, 4 FFs, and a school record 13 FRs. Teamed with Shaun Cody (2nd round pick of the Lions in 2005) to give USC the top tackle tandem in college football. Earned All-America honors as a senior, posting 45 tackles with 6 sacks, a team-high 16 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 2 FFs, and 4 FRs. Returned one fumble 52 yards for a TD vs. UCLA. Notched 55 tackles and 7 sacks as a junior.