Minnesota Vikings

This is probably the face that Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson was making when some dumb cop thought he could take him down by jumping on his back.

While some of us are still trying to get over the fact that super star Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson is back in action already, Peterson is taking reps. But those reps are not as dangerous as they normally would be. Apparently, coaches have instructed players that full contact drills do not exactly apply to Adrian Peterson.

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According to the Star Tribune:

Yes, Peterson’s surgically repaired left knee seems to be nearing full strength again. And technically, he has been cleared to resume football activities in full. But until further notice, the Vikings have hung a giant “Do Not Touch” sign around Peterson’s neck.

“The rules are simple,” safety Jamarca Sanford said. “Do not touch 28. If you touch him, you’re cut.”

Coach Leslie Frazier admits he has had detailed discussions with his defense about handling the star running back with extreme care as Peterson blends back into practice. And just to make sure that message was clear, Frazier hopped into the defensive huddle just a moment before that first Peterson handoff to reiterate the orders.

The article goes on to say that other players who would Peterson would be having one-sided full contact with them were worried about protecting themselves. That tid bit makes it even funnier that some misguided police officer thought he could take Peterson down by jumping on his back. Anyway, until further notice when Peterson gets the ball his teammates was part like the Red Sea.

The latest news is that Peterson may be able to play Friday against the San Diego Chargers. If so, you can bet the Chargers will be showing Peterson no such courtesy.

Forget the most interesting man in the world, meet the luckiest one.

I know that Jerome Simpson is going to have a ballerific season. After all, he’s the luckiest man in the world.

Just a few months ago we all thought that Simpson was going up the creek without a paddle after over 2 pounds of marijuana was delivered to his doorstep and another pound was found inside once authorities searched his home. Suddenly G-Dep’s “Special Delivery“makes sense. Funny, cause G-Dep is in prison now…but not Simpson.

For such a dumb and blatantly obvious crime, Simpson didn’t get much in the way of penalties. 15 days in jail, 200 hours of community service and a fine of $7500.

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Running Back Adrian Peterson's contract guarantees him a cool 36 million

I love when Darren Rovell and his folks over at Sportsbiz get the calculators out. Last time, I posted their interesting numbers on the Brett Favre texting scandal. But this time, they did it for Adrian Peterson, who, with his new deal is set to make “$9227 per rushing yard based on historical averages.” Pretty astounding numbers. Peterson beats out Chris Johnson by a smidge in terms of guaranteed money and salary per season.

A little perspective: Adrian had about 8 million dollars left on his current deal. His new deal piggybacks (oo I hate that phrase) on the last deal.

Peterson’s contract extension with the Vikings includes $36 million in guaranteed money and as much as $100 million over the next seven years if he plays that long with Minnesota.

Peterson has begun the final year of his rookie deal on a $10.72 million salary and was in prime position for a big payday.

After setting the NFL’s single-game rushing record with 296 yards against San Diego in 2007, Peterson has been picked for the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons.

Lots of people complaining about big money to a running back, especially given the fact that Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has been BEGGING for a new stadium and crying poor about it. But let’s remember, the odds of Peterson playing for 7 more years (for ANY team) aren’t very high. He’d be 33 years old on the last year of his deal. For his sake, I hope he has a career with as much longevity as someone like LaDainian Tomlinson, who is currently 32 and still going fairly strong, but those types of careers at that position aren’t common.

I soooo did not want to write this post. I can’t even type the phrase “torn achilles” without grimacing. It just sounds so damn painful! Anyway, I wondered if it was common to have 10 players to injure their achilles in two just two weeks of camp, and it looks like this hasn’t happened in the past. Judy Battista at the New York Times took on the subject in her column yesterday.

But so far, the unintended winners of the lockout are orthopedic surgeons. With training camps open for less than two weeks, unofficial counts have 10 players with Achilles’ tendon tears, season-ending injuries that Monday claimed their latest victim, Mikel Leshoure, a rookie running back for Detroit.

The number is notable because nine players are thought to have torn their Achilles’ tendons in all of the 2010 preseason. According to figures compiled by Football Outsiders, a Web site that tracks every game of the season, nine players were on injured reserve with Achilles’ tendon injuries in the first week of the season last year.

WOW, so before the pre-season even begins, more players have injured their achilles in training camp than would typically injure them in the pre-season. Battista quotes a doctor who says that not training enough during the lock out could be contributing to the problem.

I hope that players’ muscle memories can hurry and catch up, because if 10 more players injure their achilles tendons it’s gonna be some trouble!

Speaking of not working out enough, Bryant Mckinnie was cut by the Minnesota Vikings for being out of shape. Yes, I know you knew that. But what you probably didn’t know is that his weight was reportedly 400lbs and his cholesterol level was a soaring 400. Just so you know, anything headed into the 200s is considered high. And sure offensive tackles like McKinnie are big but 400lbs? Even at 6’8 400 is pushing the envelope.

Still, McKinnie is looking for work.

From Jason La Canfora:

Rosenhaus’ (Mckinnie’s agent) email to NFL teams reads as follows: “Free agent Bryant McKinnie would be willing to sign a one year contract for $2,500,000 plus reasonable incentives. Please let me know if you have an interest.”

Don’t all jump at once!

McKinnie has been one of those guys who’s ALWAYS questioned about his behavior. I defended him in this blog post when the innanets blew up about him supposedly spending 100K on a bar tab. Some of the other things he’s done have been borderline indefensible. But as I always say, character issues in the NFL are of no consequence as much as we like to pretend we care. What matters is winning, and guys can’t perform when they’re out of shape.

The Jacksonville Jaguars  also released a player, Vince Manuwai, for being out of shape. But it looks like most of the guys across the league came to training camp in good condition. Or, good enough, at least given the circumstances.

That reminds me, I hear New England Patriot Albert Haynesworth is lookin good like I knew that he would! And that’s all that matters, really.