Former Sooner builds on young legend
Little more than one season into his NFL career, Adrian Peterson has built himself quite a reputation.
Sunday, he built on his legend.
The former Oklahoma star turned Minnesota Vikings star had a fairytale afternoon. He went from goat to glory in mere moments.
Facing fourth and short with nine and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter against Green Bay, Viking coach Brad Childress wanted to punt. Peterson wanted something else. He stormed toward his coach, imploring him to go for it. Childress relented, and Peterson got the call. Peterson took the handoff, took a hit and tried to sidestep the tackler. When he did, the ball popped out of his grasp.
It was the ultimate egg-on-your-face moment. It was hard to blame Peterson for wanting his team to go for it — he was running all over the Packers, for goodness sakes – but the cold, hard truth is that he failed to deliver in the clutch.
Then came redemption.
After the Packers kicked a field goal, the Vikings gave Peterson the ball five of the next six times that they snapped it. And on that sixth tote, Peterson carried the Vikings to victory. He cut right toward the sideline, then outran the Packer defense to the goal line.
Peterson outgained the entire Packer offense, racking up 225 all-purpose yards, but the touchdown dive he made carrying a Packer defender on his back will be replayed for years to come. It’s one of those career-defining, legacy-building moments.
Barring some dramatic change of fortunes, Peterson will make the Pro Football Hall of Fame some day. When he does, they might want to cue up Sunday’s touchdown run. It’s one more piece in the building of a legend.
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