This post is sponsored by Sprint.

One of the other new weekly features that will be happening this year is the continuation of our relationship with the good folks at Sprint. They will be sponsoring a "Game Ball of the Week" where we find a member of the Vikings. . .whether it's a player or a coach. . .that is worthy of receiving a Game Ball. I think that, starting with next week's game, I'll do a poll earlier in the week and name the recipient on Thursday, but since I had forgotten about this until just now, I'll just sort of name this one. . .besides, the recipient of the Game Ball against the Dolphins is a pretty obvious one, in my opinion.

Running back Adrian Peterson tried. . .single-handedly, for the most part. . .to will the Vikings to a victory over the Dolphins. On a day when the passing game couldn't stop shooting itself in the foot and kept squandering opportunities to put points on the board, the best running back in the NFL took it upon himself to keep the Vikings in the football game.  He carried the ball 28 times for 145 yards, scoring Minnesota's lone touchdown with a 1-yard run, and chipped in with five catches for an additional 41 yards. That gives him a total of 55 touches for 287 yards and a touchdown on the season, and there hasn't been so much as a hint of him putting the ball on the turf.

So, Adrian Peterson is the recipient of the first Sprint Game Ball of the Week for 2010, as well as all the fame and fortune that goes with such things.