Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is back in the NFL, and he wants everyone to know about it.
While the cat was away, however, the mice saw fit to play, Chiefs back Jamaal Charles taking the opportunity to make public the notion that he was the LeBron James of the NFL.
Something former Minnesota linebacker Ben Leber brought up while he was speaking with Peterson on the sideline during their preseason game against the Raiders on Saturday night. If Charles was the LeBron, Leber asked him, then who would he be?
"I'm the LeBron," Peterson said, smiling.
Charles isn't the only NFL tailback who thought himself the best that Peterson has teased during his career. He and former Titans runner Chris Johnson tried to one-up each other over three seasons recently and when LeSean McCoy proclaimed himself the best in the league last year, Peterson sniffed, "He didn't really mean it."
At that time, Peterson was in and out of court defending himself on charges that he beat his son with a stick until he was bloody, and techinically the point is moot. The Cowboys' DeMarco Murray, who led the league in yards and touchdowns, was the best rusher last season.
A title Peterson clearly wants for himself.
He says the extra time he's had to work out during his time away has prepared him for his often-repeated goal of 2,500 yards. Whether or not that lofty feat is achieved will have to wait until the Vikings' Sept. 13 opener in San Francisco, the first time Peterson will see the field in uniform.
After a long and icy NFL offseason filled by court dates and accusations and suspensions and all-round unpleasant tidings, the national game finally returned to the nation. Deep in the heart of Ohio, the city of Canton, the birthplace of that game in its finest form, American men did precisely what American men were born to do -- run into each other for money.
Though, the occasion being the Hall of Fame Game, the hitting was not particularly concise. Nor, indeed, was most of anything else. All told, the Minnesota Vikings scratched together two touchdowns and the Pittsburgh Steelers skidded by on a field goal as the first tale of the gridiron played itself out on Sunday night.
Here are the Pro Football Report's takeaways:
- The national game was played with a heavy heart, as it finds itself without Frank Gifford as a spectator. The former USC and Giants all-rounder took a knee on Sunday morning at age 84 in Connecticut. Natural causes, they said. It's the only way to go.
- Should the Steelers ever find themselves in need of the services of Landry Jones behind center, the first thing that comes to mind is, "Run it." Jones played himself into the second half on the night as Ben Roethlisberger, weighed down by several tens of millions of dollars, patrolled the sideline. His backup averaged all of 4 yards per attempt, slinging 32 of them, 15 of which found somebody. It was like watching a man who hasn't started a pro football game, which, incidentally, Jones hasn't. Rust takes time to blast off.
- The same prognosis goes for tight end Jesse James, who lived up to his infamous name, robbing Jones of two receptions, including one that surely was a touchdown on a goal-to-go situation from the Vikings 2. A Pittsburgh-area native, James was fearsome at Penn State, but outside the borders of the commonwealth, had a case of the drops. His second drop (or rather, chest bounce) ended up in the hands of the other guys.
- On a brighter note, Vikings signal caller Teddy Bridgewater looked confident in the pocket. He connected with Kyle Rudolph on a pair of catches for 22 yards as the Notre Dame tight end availed himself the middle of the Steelers' linebacking tandem.
- But Pittsburgh's stoppers looked in sync in the early going. Former Ohio State backer Ryan Shazier (2nd year) was trying to get noticed. He was. Lawrence Timmons is still the leader of this group, but Shazier is finding his way to the ball easily. Sean Spence contributed to a triplet that has the makings of preserving the Steeler name behind the line. All three were fast and went to the play rather than letting the play come to them in the first quarter.
- Dri Archer (Steelers back) needs to learn how to run upfield, fast. There are ball carriers that run for daylight and there are those that do a Viennese waltz. The end zones aren't on the sidelines.
- Minnesota's Stefan Diggs slithered through Steeler protection to the 1 on a splendid 62 yard punt bring-back. Highly recommended out of Maryland this spring, that effort must have brought a sparkle to Vikes coaches' eyes. Just as advertised. Joe Banyard slinked over for the last yard to finish the scoreline.
- The Steelers got some grisly news about their kicker. Shaun Suisham suffered what the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called "potentially significant" on the third quarter kickoff. He's the only boot on the roster, so the club will have to go out and buy another one before too long. That could be important nowadays -- with the point after moved back to the 15, they may be asking themselves if a two-point conversion is their newest friend.
- Reason to get up in the morning secured, at last: Football is back.
NEW YORK - Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday to discuss his possible reinstatement to the league, according to Ian Rapoport on Twitter.
Peterson, who agreed to a plea deal in November on one count of misdemeanor reckless assault, is eligible to return to his team on April 15.
His name is still on the Commissioner's Exempt list, requiring him to refrain from all team activities while undergoing legal proceedings.
The meeting could provide a long-awaited conclusion to Peterson's predicament and consequently the future of the Vikings franchise. Head coach Mike Zimmer said at the NFL Owners Meetings in March that he was awaiting "clarity" regarding Peterson before he could move ahead with his plans for the club.
Ben Dogra, Peterson's agent, noted to NFL Media last month that the back was interested in leaving Minnesota, later bluntly confirming to USA Today, "We want out of Minnesota."
Vikings owner Mark Wilf was quick to respond to rumors of his star back wanting to leave town.
"He's an important part of the Minnesota Vikings," Wilf said, "and we look forward to him being part of our team in 2015."
Peterson has three years and $45 million remaining on his current contract. Neither he nor his agent have demanded a trade outright.
Though in the last month, there has been more than enough coming from his side that he is considering a future elsewhere, with the Cowboys and Cardinals two likely landing spots.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - With the departure of veteran quarterback Kyle Orton to retirement after last season, the Buffalo Bills were on the market for a new passer, and on Wednesday, in a trade with the Vikings, they found Matt Cassel.
The Bills will receive a sixth-round pick, in exchange for a fifth-round choice, in the 2015 Draft from the Vikings as part of the deal, and a seventh-round selection in 2017, according to Fox Sports.
Cassel has one year remaining on a two-year deal worth $10 million signed in February with Minnesota, and is due $4.15 million next season in addition to a $500,000 roster bonus.
He started for the Vikings last season before an injury in Week 3 sidelined him for the rest of the year, thrusting rookie Teddy Bridgewater into the position.
Cassel, a tenth-year man from USC, will compete for the starting job in Buffalo with E.J. Manuel. He has more than 15,000 career passing yards for 96 touchdowns.
Buffalo on Tuesday received former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy in a trade that saw them send linebacker Kiki Alonso to Philadelphia as the Bills look to be major players in free agency this offseason.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has released a statement concerning his situation, following a ruling that overturned his suspension from football.
This is the entirety of his statement, via Pro Football Talk:
"I was pleased to learn about Judge Doty's decision," Peterson said in the statement. "It is a positive step in protecting players' rights and preserving due process for all players. It also beings me one step closer to getting back on the football field and playing the sport I love.
"As I prepare for my return to football, I am still focused on my family and continue to work to become a better father every day. I want to express my gratitude for all of the support I have received from the fans, NFLPA, Jeffrey Kessler, and my agents Ben Dogra, Tracy Lartigue, and Mark Heligman from Relativity Sports."
United States District Court Judge David Doty on Thursday overturned the arbitration decision that upheld his suspension, though Peterson is yet to be reinstated, instead being placed on the Commissioner-Exempt List, allowing him to return to the team.
Peterson is permitted to speak with the team while on the list, who can release him, trade him, or restructure his deal when the league year begins on March 10.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is back in the NFL, and he wants everyone to know about it.
