A few week ago, I was watching my Seahawks play the Carolina Panthers when FOX interrupted the action to show highlights of the Vikings-Lions game.
What appeared next on my television was Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson juking through the Lions’ D-line and sprinting into the end zone for a 78-yard touchdown.
My buddy, who was watching football with me, leaned forward and asked “Did they just say that was his first carry of the season?”
I nodded my head. It was indeed AP’s first carry of the 2013 NFL season.
An impressive start in and of itself but the long touchdown run is further elevated by the fact that over the summer Peterson predicted big things for himself during an interview with football guru Peter King.
“I think 2,500 rushing yards is a goal. I’ll always try to push myself. I think it’s realistic, and it can happen without a team just focusing on the run.”
If any other running back in the league had laid out such a lofty goal you would have chortled, but no one laughed at Peterson.
The former Oklahoma running back defied the odds in 2012 when he returned from a torn MCL and ACL to rush for 2,097 yards. While good enough to earn MVP honors it was eight yards short of Eric Dickerson‘s single season record of 2,105.
Peterson’s quick return was a blessing for him and the Vikings but a curse for every other athlete trying to come back from a ripped-up ACL.
“Adrian Peterson came back so well that in some ways it gives people somewhat unrealistic expectations,” explained Dr. Andrew Pearle, an orthopedic surgeon based in New York City. “For every Adrian Peterson who comes back like he has, there are lots of athletes who struggle the first year.”
The realistic expectations Peterson has for himself seem unrealistic to everyone else because we’re not part super human. I’m not quite sure Peterson is mortal or even human.
When the average fan hears “2,500 yards” they say “no way.” That’s impossible in today’s pass-happy NFL and certainly impossible with the other offensive players the Vikings have on their 2013 rooster. Minnesota will be behind way too much for Peterson to get the rushes he needs to reach the 2,500-yard plateau.
In fact, he finished the aforementioned game with just 93 yards.
Of course, that’s not how Peterson thinks. Where we see obstacles he sees opportunities. For example, the running back doesn’t wish he had another carry in 2012 but rather the chance to do the last one all over again.
“I look back on that play, so many different things after the case, like man maybe I should have cut inside or if I would have broken one more tackle, I could have gotten that record. It was there to take, it just wasn’t meant to happen.”
Peterson doesn’t blame his coaches, his line, or his quarterback for what he doesn’t accomplish. Instead, he asks himself what he can do better. Peterson puts the onus on himself.
The seventh overall pick from 2007 doesn’t think he can rush for 2,500 yards because the coach will give him 600 or 650 carries. He thinks he can rush for 2,500 yards because he believes in himself.
To see the “probable” when others see “impossibility” takes character. Adrian Peterson has character. If you look at his Twitter account, (@AdrianPeterson) in between “Boomer Sooner” posts you’ll read shout outs to charities, words of inspirations, and remarks of gratitude.
Peterson’s strong moral character was partly forged by tragedy. When he was seven, Peterson saw his older brother killed by a drunk driver. When he was 13 his father was arrested for selling crack cocaine. The day before participating in the NFL Combine his half-brother was murdered.
A lesser man may have turned towards drugs or alcohol but not Peterson. He turned to athletics. He turned to being the best Adrian Peterson he could be.
Early in September, Peterson and his All Day Foundation partnered with Minnesota’s children hospitals to raise money for kids suffering from abuse and neglect. As part of the fundraiser, Peterson visited the young patients at a Minneapolis children’s hospital.
“It is humbling to see the courage, strength and optimism of these kids knowing what they are going through. Today was a great reminder of the impact Children’s makes in our community, and I couldn’t be more excited about the work we can do together to support kids’ health.”
After FOX returned to the Seahawks game, my buddy said, quite matter-of-factly, “Adrian Peterson is my favorite player.”
It’s hard not to rank Peterson as your personal number one. Even if he doesn’t rush for 2,500 yards, or break Dickerson’s single season record, or gain 2,000 yards (no one has consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons), Peterson will still impress, dazzle, and inspire.
He’s the football player we all wish we could be both on and off the field.
“His greatest strength is everything that he has. He really has no weaknesses. He has speed, power, vision, just overall has the experience now that he’s been in the league, very seasoned, pretty much has seen I’m sure a million million types of defenses going against him, so really his advantages are everything,” gushed Detroit Lions tackle Ndamukong Suh.
