Adrian Peterson - Are we wasting his best years?

thestonedkoala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3800

I know this will be a controversial topic but I got to bring it up. And yes I was wrong about Peterson (though we did limit his snaps in the beginning) but I got to wonder; we drafted Peterson in 2007. This is his 5th year in the NFL. And while he is a freak of nature as athletes go, he's in his prime now. Even the best NFL running back in the 2000s, LaDainian Tomlinson started declining after 5 years in the league (2006 was his best year).

Some other rushing leaders:

- Shaun Alexander, drafted a year earlier in 2000, had 5 good years before declining.

- Jamal Lewis bucked the trend but lasted 9 years in the NFL with one good year a year before he retired. But he never had as good of year as he did 3 years in his career and he never broke 1,500 years again in his career.

- Curtis Martin also bucked the trend and had up and down career. He lasted 10 years in the NFL as well.

- Priest Holmes had his best year 5 years into his career and then fell apart near the end.

- Edgerrin James last had 1,500 yards 6 years into his career and then he got shipped off to Arizona where is career ended.

- Terrell Davis is another one that had a short career and his last good season was 4 years into his career.

While I don't expect Peterson to drop off for a year or two, we're still neck deep in a rebuilding process. And with the quarterback situation in the area and the playoffs a dream, I got to wonder if Peterson wouldn't be best served as a trade chip to help the rebuilding process and at least give him a chance to get a ring.

Kellerman · Joined: 16 May 2010 Posts: 3170 Location: Amsterdam

No.
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The Gnat · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 34117 Location: Minneapolis

I'd agree with no, how is it wasting his talent when we are getting rushing like we are, and we brought in Favre to make a push with Peterson two years in a row, so it isn't like we've spent the whole of his career in a rebuilding phase, sure this year, but one year of rebuilding isn't, especially since we've seen what rebuilding can ramp up to from a couple of seasons ago.
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PrplChilPill · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 7803 Location: SLP, MN

Yes, 100% yes. Just like the Twins are wasting Mauer right now. But both reams want to build slowly through the draft, and sign marginal free agents.
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milanb · Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Posts: 5167 Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Adrian got his kick at the can in 2009. If he doesn't fumble at the goal line in the NFC Championship the Vikings probably win the Super Bowl that year. The same holds true for Percy.

The bottom line is that it's difficult to stay competitive year after year, and the Vikings are still two or three years away from challenging for the Super Bowl again.

It is what it is.
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disaacs · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 19972 Location: Brownbackistan

That's the equivalent of saying that the Chicago Bears wasted Walter Payton's talent because it took them 11 years of his career to make the Super Bowl. It's a ridiculous argument, and will always be a ridiculous argument in my opinion.
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SteelKing728 · Joined: 23 Aug 2008 Posts: 10869 Location: Pittsburgh

There is simply no reason to trade him away.

By doing that, the rebuilding process will only take longer.

I really don't think Peterson will show signs of decline for another solid 2-3 years.
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vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66609

wcblack34 · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:04 pm Post subject:

Did the Dolphins waste Dan Marino's best years? Not every great player gets to win a Super Bowl. That's why it is such a great achievement.

PrplChilPill · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 7803 Location: SLP, MN

The question isn't post hoc, though. The question is, should you be embarking on a 3 year rebuilding effort with Allen and Peterson in their prime?
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disaacs · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 19972 Location: Brownbackistan

Worm Guts · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 561

Even if we wanted to trade him we probably wouldn't get much because his huge salary and the short shelf-life of running backs.

VikeADunn · Joined: 20 Mar 2010 Posts: 5525

No
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Frank Costello · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:59 pm Post subject:

Great point about the fumble in the NFC Championship game.

I do kinda feel bad tho, he's starting to remind me of Barry Sanders. It's great to have an NFL icon and future HOF on your team. But I'll take winning any day of the week over that.
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PurpleMugen · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:31 pm Post subject: