Channeling My Inner John McEnroe On Adrian Peterson's Injury
by Christopher Gates on Dec 26, 2011 11:12 AM CST
in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season
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PrintWe were all feeling quite a mix of emotions on Saturday afternoon when Adrian Peterson went down with his knee injury. In between getting the recaps done both here and at SB Nation Minnesota, I jumped around the internet to a few of the various other Minnesota Vikings' websites, message boards, communities, etc., and discovered something that I found a bit strange, to say the least.
It appeared that there a disturbingly large number of folks that wanted to put the blame for Peterson's injury on Leslie Frazier for some reason or another. They went on about how Peterson shouldn't have been on the field in a "meaningless" game and how, in some cases, Frazier should be fired for allowing it to happen.
I guess I have just one question for anyone that thinks Adrian Peterson shouldn't have been on the field this Saturday when he was ready, willing, and able to do so.
Are you serious?
By the time Saturday's game came around, Peterson was no longer listed in the injury report for anything. That meant that he was ready to play and contribute to the Vikings' cause against the Washington Redskins. From all accounts, Adrian Peterson is as ultra-competitive a player as there is in the NFL, and if Leslie Frazier had held him out, it's pretty likely that he would have been really, really ticked off about that. Then all the people that are complaining that Peterson was on the field on Saturday would be complaining that Frazier made Peterson angry by holding him out.
(That's one thing I've discovered in 5 1/2 years of doing this. . .there's a certain segment of this fan base that apparently isn't happy if they're not complaining about something.)
Yes, Adrian Peterson got hurt in what was, ultimately, a meaningless football game for the Minnesota Vikings. The reality is that every single NFL play could, potentially, be a player's last for a season or a career. On Saturday, Jared Allen (who hasn't been listed on the injury report all year) could have gotten chop blocked and taken off on a cart. Christian Ponder did take two helmet-to-helmet hits, and I'll be surprised if he plays in the finale. (And I'll still submit that if Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, or Tom Brady had taken the same hit as the one Ponder did that put him out of the game, a 15-yard penalty would have been involved.) Even the 46th guy on the active roster on Saturday, someone like Emmanuel Arceneaux or Jarrad Page, could have blown a knee or suffered a head injury or some other devastating injury that would have ensured they never set foot on an NFL field again.
It just so happens that it happened to Minnesota's best player. And yes, it angers us more than it would to one of the guys on the bottom of the depth chart, but that's just the way that things go in this league.
Leslie Frazier has done some questionable things in his first full season as Minnesota's head coach, and I don't think anybody will argue that. Playing Adrian Peterson on Saturday, however, is not among them. The injury that happened to #28 could have happened to anybody, healthy or otherwise.
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The unfortunate truth
I think the whole ‘he shouldn’t have played!’ is just an arguement made in frustration and hindsight. I felt the same way immediately following the injury, but after I finally calmed down, it was pretty apparent that wasn’t even an option. I mean the guy doesn’t even have 1k yards yet. Fat chance of him not playing the rest of the season trying to reach that milestone.
Sad to see his streak of 1,000+ yard seasons end on a sour note like this.
Draft (for now)
So I was thinking, while we dropped to at least 3rd in draft order, that may not be such a bad thing. We may miss out on Luck and Kalil, but we might get a ton more because everyone will want to trade up to 3 for RG3. We could get a huge amout of picks because Barkely dropped out. As long as the Bears game turns out the right way…
Don't you know who the *^$% I am?
We still could get Kahlil.
Another team could trade up to 2 for RG3 and Kahlil would still be there for the taking.
by vking1 on Dec 26, 2011 12:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Did you know RGIII is now the 3rd ranked QB?
Wheeden is ranked higher. Why, I don’t have a clue. RGIII looks like another Cam Newton, with an even better arm.
Exactamundo
If he doesn’t play, people might have perceived it as Frazier trying to tank the last two games intentionally.
The message he would’ve sent to the fans and the locker room is, essentially, ‘I quit.’
He would’ve been ripped unmercifully, and rightly so.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
by Ted Glover on Dec 26, 2011 11:42 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions
He was already dealing with an injury
A big case of I Told You So here. Dumb move, Vikings.
@JayKlinkhammer
jayklinkhammer.tumblr.com
by y2jayjk on Dec 26, 2011 11:42 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
He was no longer on the injury report
Which meant he was as close to 100% as a player can get after having played in 14 (or his case 11) games at this point.
Christian Ponder: Super Bowl 50 MVP for the Minnesota Vikings
For Basketball Reasons
You’re right Peterson would have been pissed off but it’s not his choice if he plays or not. It’s the decision of the head coach and ultimately Frasier knows his job is on the line so he needs to play his best player. It frustrates me because Toby Gerhart was getting into a groove and was playing well.
And as Ted said
If he had kept Peterson on the bench, we’d be ripping him for tanking games on purpose.
No NFL team is going to tank a game for any reason.
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by Christopher Gates on Dec 26, 2011 12:03 PM CST up reply actions
Last week people bitched that Peterson only had 10 carries, this week people bitch that he was even playing.
He’s paid to play football. It wasn’t a dirty or malicious hit. As much as it sucks for the Vikings, it’s part of the game that every player risks on every play.
Billick: "What did McNabb do to deserve being benched?"
Answer: He upset PETA by killing every worm he came across on a football field.
by TroyW18 on Dec 26, 2011 2:52 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Blaming Frazier Is Nuts
The only logical arguement that could have been made against Leslie would have been if the Vikings were up or down by a large margin and A.D. was still in the game. That wasn’t the case though and it didn’t happen at the end of the game, it happened on the first play from scrimmage in the second half in a tie game. As bad as it was and as bad as everyone feels, it was a freak accident that could have happened at any time. These guys are pros and even though the team has been out of the playoff picture for several games now, many of them are still playing for pride. Even with their bad record, I haven’t seen this team quit all year and they’ve had more than one chance to do so. What happened could be “what if’ed” til the cows come home and it still won’t change the outcome. Get well soon Adrian. We’re looking forward to seeing you step back on that field in uniform next year.
Was He 100%????
Peterson went 12 for 38 yards before the injury. Not terribly impressive and not on his way to 1000 yards very quickly. I agree that it is hard to completely hold him out with all of the draft position issues, but was he really 100%? if not, did playing with the lingering effects of a high ankle sprain contribute at all to his injury? Not that they are directly related, but was he planting his feet differently or other things that made him more susceptible to injury? He certainly could have shared the load more with Gerhart in the first half if there were any issues.
Add The Fact That...
He had two impressive runs in the first half called back because of penaties and a strong case could be made that he was well on his way to a +100 yard day.
Very true
I believe they were for 20 and 12 yards. Without the penalties it would have been 14 for 70.
Gimme a team that never quits.
Injured players sit, healthy players play.
Adrian’s sprain had healed sufficiently to play, so you play him. Period.
Accidents happen, and this one sucks more than most but I’m proud of the effort this team has made despite all the adversity.
Win or lose, I’ll always support a team that does not quit.
by Lars in SLP on Dec 26, 2011 12:25 PM CST via mobile reply actions 6 recs
Agreed 100%
And this team deserves no comparison to the 1984 Les Steckel Quitters.
by Caretaker QB on Dec 26, 2011 1:01 PM CST up reply actions
Well said purplegrey.
I didn’t get a close examination of the play but the only blame I could place would be the Washington player’s tackling technique. I know he was trying to fill what initially was a huge hole and in the heat of the moment don’t have time to consider consequences – but holy crap! If that’s your tackling style, Adrian won’t be the last RB with a blown out knee.
AD was not only rushing for 1000 yards, he’s only 200-some away from being the all-time leading Viking.
I was blaming Frazier too
But that was in my blind rage of losing AP and the second overall pick. AP is a beast and would want to be on the field at any time and Frazier wanted to win. Their life is all about winning in this league, no matter what your record is. By that nature, it wasn’t a meaningless game; Frazier got another win under his belt, Webb proved to be better that what we have been expecting again, and Toby is progressing nicely. We knew what we had in AP, since he’ll probably never be the same, it’s good to see the other players stepping up. I remember I was once on the bandwagon to trade Toby. Needless to say, not anymore.
by christian220896 on Dec 26, 2011 12:48 PM CST reply actions
You are right
Football is a violent contact sport and that is the way it should be. we all love to see clean tackles and high speed hits, It was sad, it was awful to see but I do not think it was a cheap hit. if AD is not on the injured list you have to play him. period
We can still be the number 2 in the draft order if SL wins and we lose, but on the other hand, if we win (a real posibility, chicago is not good) we could go back to number 5 or 6.
if we are 4-12 we will lose the tie breakers versus Jacksonville and Cleveland and depending on the results maybe we will lose it to Tampa Bay also. After a season like this, I will hate to pick Number 6 in the draft order
Obviously you play to win the game!....but,
They can still have that winning attitude with some of the future franchise players on the sideline……
(or at least playing a much smaller role in the game-plan anyway)
With a season like this, there’s nothing wrong with minimizing the roles of certain franchise players during the last couple games.
The Vikings are now Financially Hand-cuffed to a very $Expensive HB with a blown knee….because 3-13 was so worth it!
I really don’t give a hoot about stats and records. I care about the health and longevity of the teams Franchise Players. I wish the FO felt the same way….
Play the scrubbs!
You play to win !!!
That is simple.. of course if we knew that a player is going to get hurt, you will take him out, the previous play, but you do not.. based on your comment, Jared Allen, Harvin , K. Williams, greenway, Robison, Hutchinson, Rudolph, Shiancoe Erin Henderson, Ponder and many more should be on the bench, because you do not want to risk them .
You can not play the scrubbs
Not even close to what I'm saying!
Those players don’t take 1/2 the beating that AD takes….and you could add all those other players salary’s together and they probably don’t add to AD’s $65mil guaranteed.
AD was on pace for 20+ carries yesterday…is that really necessary for a team that’s 2-12 anyway ?
I have no problem with running Gerhart and Booker during these last two Meaningless games. Go ahead and yank Harvin as well.
Showcase who we have on the depth-chart..
We already know what we have with AD, Allen, Kwill and Greenway, so why not see how their back-ups have progressed ?
It's seems kind of like you are reacting in hindsight here.
And I don’t think that figure for his guaranteed money is accurate. Too late now, but I get why you are pissed. Peterson could have been injured like that on any play he ran this season.
taylor: doctor, I'd like to kiss you goodbye.
dr. zira: all right, but you're so damned ugly.
by monkey luvver on Dec 26, 2011 4:47 PM CST up reply actions
I am wrong about the $money....it's $36mil guaranteed.
sorry about that!
But I’m honestly not speaking in hindsight.
I know injuries can happen on any play, and that only confirms why AD shouldn’t get the majority of the carries during a meaningless game….imo!
also, all the players you mentioned ARE NOT Franchise Players
Rudolph hasn’t proved anything yet.
Shank may or may not be around next year.
Erin spells his name with an E :)
Robison is avg at best.
None of these players compare to the value of ADAP!
So those players would be expected to play during meaningless games….imo!
Yeah...
Play all the third stringers, people who shouldn’t ever have to take the field, and we probably would have had even more injuries.
If we can't laugh at ourselves, Packer fans will call us crybabies and we will be forced to kick their tooth in. I really don't want to go to jail (again).
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Dec 26, 2011 1:36 PM CST up reply actions
save the dramatics
Just because I want a few franchise players on the sidelines doesn’t mean that they have to start the #3’s in every position.
Re-Posting my July Topic
Met with very little support then, and don’t expect any support now. I am a fan for almost 50 years, and I have been loyal. But I am not a fool, nor do I buy into what the spin doctors tell me to believe. The Vikings team is in turmoil, as far as I can see. The stadium issue simply must be resolved ASAP. The team lacks bonafide stars at most positions, and some of the best “character” guys are leaving via retirement (K-Sauce, for one) or other reasons. I, for one, do not believe the team “gets it” when it comes to the QB position. In all the DECADES I have been loyal, the best QB was Tarkenton, and not only is that many eons ago, but he was even atypical – a wily scrambler, who could dazzle average foes, but when matched in Super Bowls against the cream of the league he got pretty much exposed.
So, please re-read my July post (I had also posted similar commentary in the past year), and just try to be semi-levelheaded about what I was trying to convey. Now, with the Draft ahead as the only thing to look forward to, I see the team with MANY needs, but I would include a Super Bowl caliber QB among them. And, should things pan out to make available a Top-flight QB, I would support drafting that person.
My opinion: Joe Webb is a great athlete, but not the type of QB to win a Title. Same with Ponder, and I still feel he was a reach pick. He is more likely to be a backup in the NFL. So, again, in MY opinion only, the Vikings still need a franchise QB if they are to ever win a Super Bowl in my lifetime. (I am 56 so I do not believe the chances to be very good).
The bottom line is that this is for entertainment purposes, of course. Just expressing my heartfelt observations and opinions. In today;s NFL, I would never build around my one superstar RB. I would, however, definitely try to build around my superstar QB, provided I have the brains to go get one. I build from the OL, first and foremost. DL and out, second priority. Skill position players can be gathered in multiple ways – draft, FA, trade. But you secure your lines, build depth everywhere, and ensure against serious injuries to any star players as best you can. Go ahead and flame me. I can take it.
http://www.dailynorseman.com/2011/7/29/2302635/time-to-face-facts-and-trade-adrian-peterson
Only if you could "Herschel Walker" trade AP to some sucker team...
Yeah, I went there.
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Typical responses.
These are the same old tired responses I get every time I post any comment about trading a star player. I totally disagree. First of all, there are no more idiots around who would ever duplicate the Walker trade. Ain’t happening. All I said was, I would consider trading a RB like Peterson, for MANY reasons (financial investment vs. risk of injury; potential return when your team is in major rebuilding phase; and the likelihood that said player will be “wasting” the prime years in futility.) You are entitled to your opinion, but so am I.
The type of deal that I feel is reasonably possible, would be (NOW, kids, this is pure conjecture, not based upon the financial details to which I am not privvy – just trying to explain the type of possible trades I was referring to.) This is just one what-if scenario, to illustarte that there MIGHT be (well, might HAVE BEEN now that AD is injured seriously) I was contemplating.
(PANTY-BUNCHING SPOILERS ahead!!! Not for the unimaginative, negative, thick-skulled, who think like their grandfathers! lol)
Let us fantasize. Let’s say a contending team felt they could use a back like AP/AD, as that one missing element that just might ensure their place as a Super Bowl Champion and a contended for the Super Bowl (Yes, that is the special prize most teams actually try to win at the end of a grueling season). For spits and giggles, let;s say a team like the Patriots. JUST for sake of conjecture, lets us imagine that team’s braintrust decided they were in for a tough playoff run because they cannot run the ball as efficiently as they’d like. They also have a plethora of draft picks they have (intelligently) amassed over the years, so they do have the means to consider making a big trade. The other team (our beloved Vikings) doesn’t WANT to trade Peterson, of course. But in the best interest of wise rebuilding, and consideration for Adrian’s remaining productive years, they look into it. They demand no less than a starting OL, a Number One pick in 2012, and another legitimate player on either side of the ball. They also demand a high draft pick or two in 2013, since they need to keep stockpiling young talent across the team, and cannot do it all in one year. The Patriots (Now, don’t wet yourself – this is only a speculative scenario, and the other team could be Oh, Dallas or Arizona, or Oakland or New York, etc)
Now, all I am saying is, (BEFORE he got injured), weighting the risks, the huge contract he was about to sign, and the state of our franchise – I would have put some proposal like this together for a team like the Patriots (insert another franchise that actually likes to try to win Super Bowls), and I would have agreed to the terms only if we felt it was in the best interest of OUR team winning a Super Bowl within the next five or so years. As it stands, we have a major concern at RB now, no legit championship-caliber QB – MY OPINION ONLY), a defense in need of major overhaul, and more needs at more positions than most any other NFL team.
While this is now hindsight, I posted my old comment to illustrate that it was not my opinion only after Adrian got injured. No one was more depressed than I over his unfortunate injury. But now what? He has NO trade value whatsoever. Who will you offer up in any trades? Your crap players? So, the Vikings need to use multiple drafts to even begin to climb back to relevance. My willingness to trade our best RB would not have magically changed that fact, but it would have expedited the process as best we could, under trying circumstances. I consider that good business. Because the fans, especially loyal ones like me who have been waiting for ONE championship (the Lions will get there now, before we do! That makes me sick.) deserve your best effort to secure a ring.
So, no Walker trade. Just an equitable deal where the two parties both benefit. Could it have been worked out? I have no idea, but my concept for it is not outlandish. ANYWAY, it is all MOOT now. You have Adrian for the years of recovery and hopefully a miraculous return to glory – behind a sub-par Line, a mediocre QB and a defense that will get worse before it gets better. Can’t say it gives me a warm feeling, as much as I like Peterson. And, by the time he (hopefully) regains a semblance of his former abilities, he will be getting older… and increasingly frustrated (assuming he even cares about titles or rings). He has his money now, remember?
So if everyone's entitled to their opinion
Why do you keep talking down to all of us like we’re idiots? It goes both ways. If you want us to respect your opinion, you have to respect ours.
isnt the point of building
to amass as many great players as possible to win it all … addition by subtraction .how is kc doing from the j allen trade? they just fired the second or third coach since then. 1 the vikes arent that good at drafting. 2 wilf said i want you to be a viking for career by giving him 100 mill contract. 3 you live in the now , if your team doesnt draft great having more picks doesnt equal out in the end. rebuilding does take 3-4 years not 1 . if any star to trade away from team woulda been k will . but thats for less value picks . and 4 . THE VIKINGS HAVE 1 CHAMPIONSHIP 1969. we won the nfl title . the afl was a totally different entertainment company. 5 peterson will be back you make his bad knee sound like hes gotta come back from cancer. terry allen had both knees with dead people parts in them and did pretty well ….. negative nellys like you is what keeps the human race from advancing . have hope your not the gm your a puter keyboard punching know it all who needs a dose of reality .
Why does everyone think they are a GM?
I guess it must be this fantasy football crap that is out these days. Trading the face of your franchise is stupid plain and simple. Suggesting it is stupid plain and simple.
I don’t know why people invision other teams having a HoF’er sitting there (and of course at the magical position they would like to have) and 3 or 4 (crap shoot) picks which of course will most definetly ALL turn into HoF’ers just laying around. Then of course if you throw out the “Well he has his money now” it somehow validates a BS scenario when a player is hurt.
The Vikings screwed themselves into giving AD all that money!
Much like they screwed themselves into overpaying Favre.
People weren’t buying season tickets to see Tjack hand the ball to AD, so they overpaid for Favre.
Same with this year. People weren’t buying season tickets to see Ponder throw it to Berrien, so they really had no choice but to extend AD’s contract and bring in another aged-FAQB.
The Vikings FO is a friggen joke.
They’ve all but wasted AD’s prime on an offense with a bunch of nobody’s. Here they are 4-5yrs after drafting the greatest HB in the league, and they’re still unsure about the QB position….
and the team has 0-depth just about everywhere!….WTF happened?
I fully agree with not relying on a HB to carry a team to the SB….Their longevity is too unstable.
However. AD has far exceeded his expectations so building the franchise around him wasn’t a horrible idea….plus like I said, they really had no other choice.
The problem is the FO.
Unlike AD and Harvin, these franchise players aren’t falling out of the sky anymore and the FO is being exposed because of it.
Misterdizz, that was a heck of a read.
I think the only question now is what other star player could we trade away to get multiple picks and players to help rebuild the worst team in Vikings history (no offense intended to that Les Steckel mess, but this team is bad). Maybe Jared Allen could get a big return like the Adrian Peterson trade you suggested.
taylor: doctor, I'd like to kiss you goodbye.
dr. zira: all right, but you're so damned ugly.
by monkey luvver on Dec 26, 2011 4:57 PM CST up reply actions
You can't trade away your star players in their prime
And expect to make your team better. It’s an oxymoron.
You are wrong about Webb......
IMHO, he has the right stuff. At no time during the few games he has played have I been thinking, “Oh, no, don’t do that!!!” It is arguable that in the past two seasons, he has had the best win, Philly, and the best comeback against Detroit, which fell short. He has been nothing short of impressive. I will not debate you on trade merit. Every team should be open to at least listening to ALL offers. If value is perceived to be there, a solid organization should give it some thought. I would expect that is always going on behind the scenes. We would not necessarily be made privy to each and every negotiation.
Agree 100%
for all the complainers to think about———considering how this season has played out, by their logic it would have been wise to sit EVERY starter from week 6 on. The remaining 10 weeks were, by all accounts, meaningless in terms of playoffs.
This is the first time I have looked at anything related to AP after seeing him go down.
I have been avoiding stories about AP. I can’t recall being more disappointed and sad about about a sports story. I enjoyed watching the games this year even though we lost 12 of them, as the Vikes were usually competitive. I always figured if we could get a decent OL and a good QB AP could carry us to a championship. I’m sick about this for AP’s sake and could stand a good cry. Hell, I’ll close to 60 and feel like bawling.
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