Comments on: Adrian Peterson wants to play special teams

By: judsonjr

judsonjr — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:50:32 +0000

It was great when Chilly would use Peterson on special teams. AD would return the kick to the 35, and then Chester Taylor would run for 0 yards on first down.

Then Peterson would run for 6 yards on second down, and they’d take him back out for 3rd and 4.

That said, these things happen in a do or die situation in playoffs. Charles Woodson was in for some returns in 2010 playoffs (first time in 3 years), mainly on punt returns where they needed someone that would absolutely not make a dumb play or muff the catch.

By: purplepridehasadownside

purplepridehasadownside — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:39:26 +0000

Too much of a good thing can be very bad in the long run…I could see kick returns in a VERY close game, or, to ‘shake up’ an opponent, but keep it limited as he is the Vikings offense.

By: bearfan1957

bearfan1957 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:32:13 +0000

Adrian Peterson is a class act, so much reminds me when I watched Sweetness, with his toughness and desire to win all of the time. Would be a stupid move for him he needs to run and punish people thats it.

By: shlort

shlort — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:25:20 +0000

electionconfidential says:Jan 3, 2013 9:43 AM

Letting him run back kickoffs would be like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. The Vikings are already using him the way he ought to be used.
__________________________

The Vikings are over-using Peterson right now. They have to because they cant count on Ponder to get anything done at this point. Peterson carried the ball 37 times last week? That is 2 games worth of carries for the average NFL Back these days. He will only last half as long at that rate. So, they are using him in the right role, but they are counting on him way too much. That will get him injured eventually too.

By: shlort

shlort — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:18:57 +0000

That is a great Idea right up until he blows out his knee in a career ending injury. Stick to carrying the Ball, Adrian.

I have never seen a guy want to get involved in more plays. Know why? The more plays you are on the field for, the higher the odds for getting injured.

By: nicepak381

nicepak381 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:57:57 +0000

Is it just me or does anyone else think this guy is losing his marbles? All of a sudden he thinks he’s Bo Jackson. They should let him play 12 more games, both ways, then go compete in the decathlon at the Olympics; e-gad.

By: bos423

bos423 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:52:58 +0000

Yea let him play on Special Teams so he gets that knee injured again.

By: pillowporkers

pillowporkers — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:47:43 +0000

Let him do it. The Vikings are where no one thought they’d be. The Vikes can get it done in Lambeau even though no one gives this team any credit STILL. Play to win and hold nothing back. AD MVP.

By: dougydougdoug

dougydougdoug — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:47:36 +0000

Just because he did well rehabbing his knee this time, doesn’t mean it’ll happen with the next injury. His position is one of the most injury prone, and shortest lived, in the NFL. Plus, he’s getting up there in years.
It might make sense to start transitioning the guy to some other less-contact oriented roles, before too much longer. And before any of you ridiculous mid-west zealots start squawking, don’t forget that in the modern football era, two other great running backs essentially ceased to exist immediately following record seasons – i.e. LT & Shawn Alexander.

AP isn’t a quarterback. He’s not going to be playing into his mid-late thirties.

I like the field goal blocking idea. Much less chance for injury doing that.

By: oxyvikadin

oxyvikadin — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:37:57 +0000

Everyone calm down. Regular season – never gonna happen. Playoffs – if you need a good return to set up the game winning drive – a good coach should do whatever it takes to put his team in the best position. If that means AD takes the field as a kick returner then that’s what should happen.

As an aside. Let’s not turn Manning’s awesome comeback into a de facto MVP vote. The Vikings won 3 games last year. Broncos were a playoff team that went to second round. That alone should be your deciding factor. Don’t even go to the stats – because you will get destroyed in AD’s favor.

By: anarchopurplism

anarchopurplism — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:37:01 +0000

Let’s not pretend that this isn’t kind of awesome. In an era of me-1st prima-donna-istic culuture where guys obsess over their specialty, here we have a guy who wants to play MORE, on less sexy duties and make an even bigger impact for his team.

To the joker who thinks that these stories are an MVP play, this is merely reporters “going to the well” to find more stories about AD because he is news-worthy right now.

I say no to kick returns outside of being down or tie game in the playoffs.

I’d totally say yes to blocking FGs from the edge. That would be sweet & not likely for injury.

By: themackstrong

themackstrong — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:30:00 +0000

I know this is a Vikings thread but Seahawks use their best players in special teams regularly and get results, Chancellor causes FF, Sherman TD, ET big tackles but every single time I’m hoping none of them get injured. Gronkowski being lost 6 games as extra kick blocker, the risk of losing NFL MVP doesn’t outweigh the reward

By: szwhtsup123

szwhtsup123 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:26:59 +0000

Geez what a great idea! What could possibly go wrong?

By: spartan822

spartan822 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:12:52 +0000

Awesome. I remember him almost scoring on a kickoff return against Chicago in his rookie season. He was very exciting to watch on kickoff returns. I’m not sure if I’d want them to risk it now, but if they do I will expect him to score. I almost feel sorry for the guys on special teams that would have to try to tackle him.

By: electionconfidential

electionconfidential — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:43:22 +0000

Letting him run back kickoffs would be like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. The Vikings are already using him the way he ought to be used.

By: jonyv22

jonyv22 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:31:06 +0000

34 carries a game and now special teams. Sounds good! They jeep abusing him at this pace and three years from now the only thing he’ll be doing All Day is rehabbing another blown knee.

By: mactimo

mactimo — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:23:36 +0000

He bowls…overhand. Sharks have a week dedicated to him. He once had an awkward moment just to see how it felt

By: conormacleod

conormacleod — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:18:53 +0000

Regular season…no. Playoffs? Kick returner. Especially with Harvin out. It could change the game. He has great vision. He would instantly be one of the best kick returners in the NFL. give it a try to start game. If Vikings somehow don’t need him to do that later, great.

By: 11thstreetmafia

11thstreetmafia — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:15:43 +0000

I mean, all pro qb Tim Tebow plays special teams why can’t Peterson? Maybe if he prayed in front of the camera more, his god would grant him the ability to play special teams, too.

By: dtrb10

dtrb10 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:56:17 +0000

He is just flat out amazing. AD will go down as the best running back to ever play in the NFL when it’s all said and done!

By: 2difshoe

2difshoe — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:48:36 +0000

Peterson should ask coach Frazier about playing special teams. In the 1985 Superbowl Frazier went in as punt returner when the game was well in hand, took a hit to the knee. Ended his career.

By: mattolikesthevikes

mattolikesthevikes — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:29:13 +0000

If the other 50 guys were like this we’d win super bowls every year.

By: jr4real

jr4real — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:56:14 +0000

I hope they are not dumb enough to ever let him do this.

By: grogansheroes

grogansheroes — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:55:27 +0000

Yo Adrian, sit on the bench unless we have the ball!

By: 2ruefan

2ruefan — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:52:25 +0000

Love the attitude, but it would be a mistake to risk further exposure to injury of a player who is so much of the offense.

This team would probably have won no more then 6 or 7 games without him this season.

By: doorharp11

doorharp11 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:16:49 +0000

I love the confidence this beast carries! The vikes team is playing with his attitude and i am loving it. Run that ball all over that green and urine yellow field.

By: wayne1693

wayne1693 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:13:34 +0000

Coming in off the edge to block a field-goal makes good sense, & would not seen to involve significant risk.

By: seabreezes51

seabreezes51 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:44:04 +0000

I know special teams are more hazardous, but they also have a huge opportunity for a team to turn a game around. I can’t see why guys like Petersen aren’t used more often than they are on Special teams.

By: canadianvikingfaniii

canadianvikingfaniii — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:43:36 +0000

He had a good 50 something yard return against the Bears to put them in Ryan Longwell field goal range for the game winning kick. Adrian almost took it for 6 on that return too. I say if it comes to a desperate situation use him or Jarius Wright.

By: discosucs2005

discosucs2005 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:42:30 +0000

Outside of a kick return with a few seconds left in a half or game, or maybe a field goal to lose a playoff game, it wouldn’t make much sense to risk Peterson getting injured.