Shea Patterson arrived just before his son did.
Early in the morning of July 6, the Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback headed to Regina International Airport and boarded an eastbound flight. Soon after the final landing of the day, he and Jessica Brewer became the proud parents of Carter Michael Joseph Patterson.
“I got into Detroit around 2 p.m., and within 45 minutes it was ‘go’ time,” the Roughriders’ newest dad said after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium.
“It happened fast, but it was a very cool experience.”
It all unfolded on the heels of another noteworthy event.
Two days before Carter was born, Patterson made his first CFL start and helped the Roughriders defeat the visiting Toronto Argonauts 30-23.
“I’m really looking forward to being able to get them up here and get the little guy up here and spend time with him,” said Patterson, 27, whose home base is in Holly, Mich.
“But, man, it was an experience like no other. The Toronto game was unbelievable. There were so many emotions and great feelings from that game. It’s just a totally different aspect of it.
“The Toronto game was so special and exciting, but then your son is born and that’s like, ‘Holy smokes.’
“It was a very cool weekend.”
Seeing double duty as a daddy, Patterson pored over game film in the fine company of his son before flying back to Regina within 24 hours of holding Carter for the first time.
“There’s nothing like it — being able to be there with Jessica as well,” the former University of Michigan Wolverines signal-caller said.
“It’s not easy for her doing it alone right now. She has all her family, her brothers and sisters, with her. Of course, I’m on the phone every 30 minutes with her as well.”
In the meantime, Patterson is preparing for Friday’s game against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
“I love the game,” he said. “That’s why I play it. I’m the ultimate competitor. I’m completely different off the field.
“I want to be putting in the work to be great. I want to be great for this organization, but (being a father) puts it in perspective.
“When you go through your day and you get agitated about something, you kind of get over yourself a little bit and realize what a blessing you have and what a blessing life is.
“It makes you work even harder than you did before, when you thought you were working your absolute hardest and giving your best effort.
“But you can go a tick harder because you know you’re doing it for your son. It’s crazy to even say it. It still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Now comes the challenge of balancing football and an expanded family.
“Football, that’s my outlet,” Patterson said. “Going to the office, that’s kind of my outlet.
“Being on the practice field with these guys and coming to work every day with these guys, that’s something where I’m fully in the now.
“When I FaceTime (Carter), it’s kind of the same thing. You kind of forget about everything else and focus on him.”
The focus is on Friday, football-wise, and a looming matchup with the arch-rival Bombers.
“The main thing is the main thing — and that’s to get a W this week,” Patterson said as his third CFL start approaches. “We’re on a short week, but we’re putting in the work to get ready for Friday.”
As the Roughriders’ starting quarterback, Patterson is already a role model. But now he strives to be an exemplary presence for his son.
“I want to be the best person I can be on the field and work really hard,” he said. “Then having a son kind of flips your focus — not that I was doing anything wrong off the field.
“I’m trying to be a better man and be the best man I can be for these guys and for my son. It definitely adds an extra tick in the tank.
“When there are times in the game when you need to reach down deep and make a big play or focus or be in the moment when things are getting crazy, usually I have a lot of things for that.
“Now my boy’s watching and I’ve got my kid looking up to me. That’s another thing to do.”
