NFL 2008 RSS
Adrian Peterson's performance in 2007 made him the overwhelming choice for the NFL 2007 Offensive Player Rookie of the Year
Award. Peterson joins Marshall Faulk as the only rookies in NFL history to win both the Offensive Rookie of the
Year Award and the Pro Bowl’s Most Valuable Player Award in the same season.
Adrian Peterson hopes to build on his first-year success and has set lofty goals for his second season in the NFL.
"2,000 yards, that's my goal," says a confident Adrian Peterson. "I'm just going to work hard to give myself
an opportunity to reach that goal."
"He's on the launching pad," said former Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl winning coach and current FOX analyst
BARRY SWITZER. "He's fixin' to go into orbit here."
That praise for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year & NFL Pro Bowl MVP ADRIAN PETERSON didn’t
come after he broke the Minnesota Vikings single-game rushing record (CHUCK
FOREMAN, 200 yards in 1976) by amassing 224 yards against the Chicago Bears in
Week 6, the highest total the Bears have allowed in their 88-year history.
It didn’t come after his NFL single-game rushing record of 296 yards (JAMAL LEWIS, 295
yards in 2003) against the San Diego Chargers in Week 9. Nor did it come after
Peterson was named MVP of the 2008 Pro Bowl.
Switzer offered up those words early in Peterson’s freshman year at Oklahoma.
Peterson has proven Switzer’s words to be prophetic as the seventh overall pick in
the 2007 NFL Draft rushed for 1,341 yards on just 238 attempts, a remarkable 5.6
yards per carry average in his first NFL season. His 95.8 yards per game average
was tops in the NFL and his 1,341 yards placed him second in the league in 2007
(LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, 1,474).
"I think Peterson is an exceptional young back," says Green Bay Packers head
coach MIKE MC CARTHY. "He’s impressive."
Vikings head coach BRAD CHILDRESS was no-doubt thrilled with his back’s
performance in 2007 and agrees with the consensus that his future looks bright in
2008 and beyond.
"I believe he is going to get better and better," says Childress. "The way that he
competes and the innate ability, they’re all there and he comes that way every day."
Below are the top five rushing totals by a running back in their second NFL season:
|
PLAYER | YEAR | TEAM | RUSHING TOTAL |
|
Eric Dickerson | 1984 | Los Angeles Rams | 2,105 |
Edgerrin James | 2000 | Indianapolis Colts | 1,709 |
Earl Campbell | 1979 | Houston Oilers | 1,697 |
Frank Gore | 2006 | San Francisco 49ers | 1,695 |
LaDainian Tomlinson | 2002 | San Diego Chargers | 1,683 |
The Minnesota Vikings led the NFL in rushing last year,
averaging 164.6 yards per game. The Vikings boast a
pair of dynamic running backs in AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year ADRIAN
PETERSON (1,341 yards) and CHESTER TAYLOR (844).
"If it’s at the end of a long run or if it’s the end of a kickoff return, even though we might like to have him the next play, you still
want to keep those guys fresh," says Vikings head coach BRAD CHILDRESS. "That’s where the fresh legs and the fresh looks
give you a chance to have those explosions."
And the Vikings running backs, particularly Peterson, had plenty of "those explosions" in 2007. Peterson led the league with 18.1
percent of his rushing attempts resulting in a gain of at least 10 yards.
NFL 2007 Big Play Rushers & Receivers
|
PLAYER | TEAM | 20+ YARD RUSHES |
|
LaDainian Tomlinson | San Diego | 13 |
Willie Parker | Pittsburgh | 12 |
Ryan Grant | Green Bay | 11 |
Adrian Peterson | Minnesota | 11 |
Brian Westbrook | Philadelphia | 11 |
|
PLAYER | TEAM | 20+ YARD RECEPTIONS |
|
Chad Johnson | Cincinnati | 27 |
Reggie Wayne | Indianapolis | 25 |
Terrell Owens | Dallas | 22 |
Braylon Edwards | Cleveland | 21 |
Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona | 19 |
Roddy White | Atlanta | 19 |
Adrian Peterson 2008 Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player
Adrian Peterson Pro Bowl MVP
Minnesota Vikings rookie running back ADRIAN PETERSON scored two touchdowns and ran
for 129 yards, the first 100-yard rushing effort in the game since MARSHALL FAULK and CHRIS WARREN in 1995.
Peterson joined Marshall Faulk as the only rookies in history to win both the Associated Press’ Offensive Rookie of the
Year Award and the Pro Bowl’s Most Valuable Player Award.
"I came here with a goal," said Adrian Peterson. "Win the game and be MVP. This is pretty special."
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