One of the greatest running backs of all time, Barry Sanders, spent too much of his career propping up a mediocre organization.
It’s fair to wonder if Adrian Peterson will spend too much of his prime doing the same in Minnesota. Peterson is doing everything he can to change that, including becoming more of a vocal leader for the team.
“He speaks up,” tackle Phil Loadholt told Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “And you heed his words when he does. I’ll keep the messages in house, but he’ll definitely make his presence felt. You don’t see many guys of Adrian’s stature preparing the way he does, and that goes for everything he does.”
We watched a couple Vikings games last week, largely with the intention to see if Peterson had lost anything. We don’t see it. He’s the same guy he’s been the last few years, and the Vikings are letting him go to waste.
“I feel like I’m a leader, obviously, and I’ve been for a long time,” said Peterson. “But I’m just doing things kind of different, just going and talking to guys more, telling them things I see that maybe they can improve on, and I expect the same.”
At 0-4, Peterson knows that talking only means so much.
“I’m kind of tired of saying the same thing,” Peterson said, before saying he still feels like the Vikings can win the division this year.
For that to happen, the Vikings would likely have to win 12 straight games. And get a little help.