Vikings Reverse Course Again, Ban Adrian Peterson

Here is the Vikings' statement on Adrian Peterson, released early Wednesday morning (around 12:45, to be more precise):

This has been an ongoing and deliberate process since last Friday’s news. In conversations with the NFL over the last two days, the Vikings advised the League of the team’s decision to revisit the situation regarding Adrian Peterson. In response, the League informed the team of the option to place Adrian on the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list, which will require that Adrian remain away from all team activities while allowing him to take care of his personal situation until the legal proceedings are resolved. After giving the situation additional thought, we have decided this is the appropriate course of action for the organization and for Adrian.

We are always focused on trying to make the right decision as an organization. We embrace our role - and the responsibilities that go with it – as a leader in the community, as a business partner and as an organization that can build bridges with our fans and positively impact this great region. We appreciate and value the input we have received from our fans, our partners and the community.

While we were trying to make a balanced decision yesterday, after further reflection we have concluded that this resolution is best for the Vikings and for Adrian. We want to be clear: we have a strong stance regarding the protection and welfare of children, and we want to be sure we get this right. At the same time we want to express our support for Adrian and acknowledge his seven-plus years of outstanding commitment to this organization and this community. Adrian emphasized his desire to avoid further distraction to his teammates and coaches while focusing on his current situation; this resolution accomplishes these objectives as well.

We will support Adrian during this legal and personal process, but we firmly believe and realize this is the right decision. We hope that all of our fans can respect the process that we have gone through to reach this final decision. – Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf

Not surprisingly, I have a few thoughts.

• I can't believe it took this long.
• The local business impact isn't huge on the Vikings bottom line (most NFL money comes from national revenue sharing), but the situation wasn't going to get better, and everyone in the organization had to know that. It was smart of the team to do the right thing, and better late than never, but did I mention I can't believe it took this long?
• If I were Adrian Peterson, I'd be instructing my legal representation to craft a plea deal as soon as possible. Suddenly, there's very real motivation for Peterson to get this resolved as soon as possible. Yes, the NFL will probably suspend Peterson once the case is resolved, but he can't concern himself with that. If he allows this case to go to trial, he will have missed 15 games as a result of the Friday indictment. If there is a conviction, there's no guarantee the NFL will just allow him to be reinstated with time served. If he cuts a deal next week as he should, he doesn't miss more than half the 2014 season, and it should be less than that. He'd then be eligible to play for his new team since the Vikings will obviously cut him after the season at the onset of the 2015 season.
• Or maybe Adrian sees that writing on the wall and wants to take a break so he's fresh for 2015 with the Cowboys. Or whoever. Who knows?
• Oh, and I can't believe it took this long. How did the Wilfs get so rich? They clearly aren't very smart, at least when it comes to public relations.

Adrian Peterson Sits Until Opener

It hasn't been officially announced, but a number of Twin Cities media outlets are reporting that the Vikings have decided to keep running back Adrian Peterson on the sidelines for the rest of the preseason.

Although there was talk of the running back returning to play Friday in the Minnesota Vikings' exhibition game against San Diego, an NFL source said Monday night that the Vikings are planning to keep the Pro Bowl running back on the sideline for their two remaining preseason games.

The Vikings' exhibition finale will be Aug. 30 in Houston.

Peterson has long pointed to being back for the team's regular-season opener on Sept. 9 against Jacksonville and club officials have made it clear that is a realistic possibility. The current plan remains for the Vikings to get Peterson on the field for that game.

This isn't a huge surprise, but it's a noteworthy story.

Vikings radio voice Paul Allen has noted a number of times on his daily show that Peterson could have practiced in camp from the outset, and he could have played in the preseason opener at San Francisco. The fact he hasn't played in a game yet has nothing to do with his rehab, but instead is simply a precaution.

Is it the right move?

Only the Vikings and Peterson can say for sure, but if I were a Vikings fan, I'd much rather see No. 28 in a preseason game if he's healthy enough to play in one.

One of the things I've learned from covering sports over the years is that there is often a mental hurdle for an athlete of any caliber to overcome when he suffers a major injury. That hurdle can be overcome by taking a hit, giving the player the feeling that he's finally okay. Sometimes, it takes a longer time than others, and there are some who can come right back with no ill effects.

Clearly, the Vikings are thinking Peterson can come back with little or no ill effects. Even if he's limited on Sept. 9, they have Toby Gerhart at their disposal, and he's looked strong so far in the preseason.

Peterson, when healthy, is unquestionably the best running back in the NFL. If Christian Ponder is going to improve as a passer, it is only going to help Peterson make big plays in the running game. If they can work off each other, there's no reason the Vikings won't be much improved when it comes to matriculating the ball down the field and scoring points.

Now ... about preventing points from being scored ...

Peterson's Fumbles Easy Target

Minnesota Vikings training camp continues. While everyone worries about the Brett Favre saga, the team's most important long-term asset continues to struggle through one of his few on-field flaws.

Adrian Peterson may have cut a couple of fumbles off his 2008 regular-season total in 2009, but his errors against Chicago late in the season and against New Orleans in the NFC title game were costly.

You can pass his 4.4 yards per carry average -- very unimpressive for a player of his caliber -- off on the Vikings offensive line being banged up a little bit last year, especially stout left guard Steve Hutchinson.

What you can't do is excuse the fumbling, no matter how hard you try. When you take into account that Peterson skipped his team's mandatory minicamp, and is now grousing about a new contract, it becomes even harder to look past the fumbling.

Peterson is trying to stop the worrying about his game.

Speaking of some media criticism he has received, especially about his fumbling, Peterson said: "I know, they've got to find something to point at. It doesn't bother me. My skin is real thick, so I can take it."

As for a possible contract extension -- he is set to make $6.5 million this season -- Peterson would be all for it. "Yeah, you know who wouldn't [want a new contract] with the collective bargaining situation at hand?"

For the Vikings, it's quite the conundrum.

There really isn't anything on tape that stands out. He doesn't carry the ball like a loaf of bread. He often gets burned by his extra effort, but that extra effort helps win his team games more often than it hurts them.

This is the problem.

When Ahman Green went through his problems in Green Bay, the Packers eventually chalked it up to him sweating too much, and they tried different pads on his forearm to keep sweat away from the football. It seemed to work, only after a Monday Night Football game where Green had to change from a rubber pad to a cloth one when it rained.

The Vikings can't just throw a different pad on Peterson's forearm to stop this problem. That won't get the job done.

Instead, they have to hope he has whatever mental hurdle cleared. At this point, teams know they can make plays by getting the ball out of Peterson's hands and onto the carpet. He has to find a way around that, and "not carrying the ball" is not an option.

The fumbling is the easiest of targets for defensive coaches. They can tell guys to try to rip the ball out of the carrier's hands. It will allow Peterson a few chances to break tackles and make some big plays while defensive players tackle the football. But it will also force him to show his problem has been overcome.

Whatever that problem is.

Something tells me it developed more easily than it will be made to go away.

Childress Justified in Peterson Reaction

Whether it was just for Adrian Peterson Day in his hometown, or because he's actually unhappy about his contract, it appears Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress is upset with Peterson.

The star running back skipped the Vikings' mandatory minicamp this weekend, ostensibly to attend a day in his honor in Texas.

Maybe he figured he was okay to not show up, since the quarterback isn't showing up until he feels like it.

He figured wrong. Friday, Childress put Peterson in his place.

"The work is here," Childress said after Friday's workout. ... "I just know that there's a bunch of guys here," Childress said. "This has a term 'mandatory' for a reason and the work is here, period. This is the fourth annual Adrian Peterson Day. I don't know if it's going to be like every year that they are going to have that, but we're going to have this, too. The same thing I told [rookie running back] Toby Gerhart, way before we decided on drafting him. This minicamp was on this date. I know he's going to go back and walk in graduation. This [camp] was going to be here."

... "I don't think Adrian is batting around retirement in his mind. It's a special set of circumstances. You can say is it special? Is everything equal? Obviously it is not. That is just the way it is. It's a matter of fact and everybody understands that on our side of the equation."

This is a message on a couple fronts. First, Childress is making clear that Favre is the star on this team ... as he should. Favre has allegedly not decided on playing another season, even though none of us are stupid and we all know he's playing.

If you were 40 and could use the "Maybe I'll retire, Chilly" card to get out of training camp, while still having everyone salute your virtues as a teammate because you tell people to watch film and you know the words to "Pants On The Ground," you'd do it, too.

Second, Childress wants it known that Peterson, and not Favre, is the offensive star who still has work to do on his game. Peterson's numbers regressed last year, and it wasn't just because of Favre or the overrated offensive line.

No, Peterson regressed -- in large part -- because he spent too much time worrying about his fumbles. Just like with Ahman Green when he was a star, the fumble problem manifests itself once you have a few on your record. It's hard not to think about it, because you're human after all, and you're hearing about it every five minutes during the week between games.

It's hard not to imagine that defensive players didn't take the time to beak "All Day" a bit last year, just to make him think a little more.

The only way to get him to be better is to improve his focus and improve his fundamentals. The time to do that isn't in September. It's really not in August, either. It's in May and June, during the so-called "underwear practices."

Peterson apparently thinks it's more important to be in a parade.

That Peterson knew of this conflict for a long time and didn't tell anyone probably incensed Childress even more.

Carol Pegues, who is Peterson's aunt and serves as the organizer for "Adrian Peterson Day," said the day honoring her nephew was planned right after the season. Nonetheless, Childress said Peterson did not inform him of the conflict until this past Wednesday or Thursday, only a couple of days after Peterson had arrived at Winter Park.

I'd be pissed at him, too, frankly. It shows no commitment to his game, his team, or his coach. If he's mad about his contract, he should probably say so.

(No, Childress probably wouldn't admit it publicly. But you can be guaran-damn-teed someone respected would have reported it by now. The Vikings are a high-profile team, and such news wouldn't pass through unnoticed.)

It goes beyond the fumble problem. For the Vikings to win the NFC North again in 2010, they need Peterson at his best. Favre isn't likely to exceed his outstanding numbers from 2009, no matter what he does. Peterson won't be able to regress statistically again, especially if his ultimate goal is to see some more money come his way.