“Stable.” That’s the word Adrian Peterson used to describe the current status of the Minnesota Vikings in a lengthy interview with USA Today.
Peterson gave candid answers to questions about his health, being the “old” guy on the team, playing for a in-your-face coaching staff, rushing for 2,000 yards, reaching the Super Bowl and what he learned after the death of his infant son last October.
“If I get 2,000, 2,500 (yards) in the process, cool,” Peterson said when poked about the possibility of rushing for 2,000 yards versus winning the Super Bowl, “And if I end up with 1,200 and a Super Bowl – psssh, I feel like I ran for 2,500. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Peterson finished with just 1,266 rushing yards last season, just one year removed from a 2,096-yard campaign that earned him the NFL MVP honor. Peterson has undergone surgeries each of the past three offseasons, including operations on his knee, then a sports hernia and a adductor release.
“I came back from my ACL injury and won MVP,” he said. “So, what’s a groin? What’s an adductor? That’s how I look at things.”
When asked what he learned from the death of his infant son and how people treated him afterward, Peterson said:
“My whole life, I’ve been responding in a positive way and keeping a positive mind, keeping God first in my heart, in my mind. No matter what wrong I’ve done, I know who sees the heart. I was put here to play football, but that’s not my main reason for being here. I understand what my main goal on earth is, and I know that only one person can judge me. So, with that, the world really can’t do too much to hurt me. You understand?”
PETERSON TO TALK ABOUT FOOD ALLERGY
Peterson’s body reacted negatively after eating a couple of bowls of gumbo during training camp last year. His throat swelled up and he struggled to breath. Fortunately, Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman was able to calm Peterson’s allergic reaction.
CBS Minnesota reports that Peterson will be in Chicago at a food allergy conference to raise awareness about the problem issue. Read more about Peterson’s role right here.
TOBY GERHART WANTS TO BE LIKE MARSHAWN LYNCH
Marshawn Lynch, the running back for the defending champion Seahawks, is better known throughout the NFL as “Beast Mode.” Toby Gerhart, the new feature back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, really doesn’t have a nickname, but he wants to be just like Lynch.
“Hopefully, I’ll be the ‘Beast Mode’ down here for the Jaguars,” Gerhart said, according to Pro Football Talk. “I want to be a guy who helps turn this program around with a physical, punishing offense.”
THE BEST GIF YOU’LL SEE ALL DAY
Teddy Bridgewater to Cordarrelle Patterson has the potential to be a slick combination in the very near future. On Wednesday, the two hooked up on this sweet deep ball.
How's this for our first GIF on Twitter? #Flash pic.twitter.com/fBuX9BiSWo
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 18, 2014
