Adrian Peterson ready for fresh start with Vikings with new deal in place
MANKATO, Minn. – Adrian Peterson heard chants of "MVP!" from fans as he arrived at Minnesota Vikings training camp Saturday, and the team has no plans to hold back its star player from trying to regain that form when practice begins Sunday morning.
The plan is to give Peterson "a large majority of the reps" like any other starter during camp, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told reporters, his absence for all but one game in 2014 in the wake of a legal issue notwithstanding.
"He's in great shape. Through OTAs (organized team activities) and minicamp, he looked fantastic," Zimmer said. "He wants to get back, too. I'll probably have to hold him back more so than push him. But we all have jobs to do, and that's why we're down here right now."
He was still smiling when he addressed reporters, reiterating he's happy to be a Viking despite a tumultuous offseason in which his agent publicly stumped for a trade and wouldn't have signed a restructured contract earlier in the week if he wasn't.
Peterson, 30, arrived in a black truck shortly before the deadline for players to report Saturday afternoon and beamed as he approached the autograph seekers gathered outside the team's dormitory on campus at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
"I'm pleased. I feel like both parties are pleased," Peterson said of the new deal, completed Tuesday. "I'm excited to be able to get things done, and it just shows support – the support that these guys have been showing me and that they believe in me and I believe in them as well."
Peterson said he never really doubted the Vikings would tweak his contract, which now is fully guaranteed for $13 million in 2015 and has a $7 million injury guarantee in 2016. The structure is more favorable to Peterson, too, though a $4 million portion of the $15 million he'd been due next year under his previous contract is now tied to escalators and incentives.
"It's definitely a good feeling to know the people do have your back," Peterson said of the greeting he got from fans. "But I'm sure it'll take a while for this to get erased out of my memory."
He rushed for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012, when he won the NFL MVP, and ranks 28th on the league's all-time rushing list (10,190) despite losing nearly an entire season in the wake of his indictment in September for injuring his 4-year-old son while disciplining the boy with a switch. (He pled no contest to a reduced misdemeanor charge in November.)
Reinstated by the NFL from the commissioner's exempt list in April amid an ongoing fight over his suspension, Peterson rejoined the team for voluntary practices June 2 after months of acrimony. He said Saturday he feels great physically and stronger mentally than ever before, which he believes will make him a better player.
The Vikings will practice in shorts Sunday and Monday, per rules set forth in the collective bargaining agreement. So, Peterson's first chance in more than 10 months to put on pads will come Tuesday.
Zimmer said inside-run drills will be more prevalent in camp as the team tries to build a physical mindset and Peterson will take part, though "all the guys know" tackling him is off-limits. He's unlikely to play in the preseason either. The Vikings open the regular season Sept. 14 at San Francisco.
"I'm just looking forward to the season, kicking things off and getting things back on track," Peterson said.