"I remember the first time he came up the middle against me and Pat (Williams)." Kevin Williams said. "We were going to give him a pop and show him he wasn't playing college ball anymore. He dropped his shoulder on me and stood me up. Before I could grab him, he was gone. Pat and I just looked at each other and shook our heads. We knew he was something special right then and there."
-Kevin Williams during that 2007 training camp. Adrian Peterson's first.
Last year, as his teammates went through the "run and wait your next turn" routine of offseason training, Adrian Peterson was busting his ass off to the side of the fields. He was attempting the impossible of getting his shredded knee ready for training camp. He succeeded and had one of the greatest offensive seasons ever.
For the most recent issue of Viking Update, several Minnesota Vikings players were asked, "In a word, how would you describe what Adrian Peterson has accomplished this season given the circumstances of his injury?" Here's how they responded.
"Incredible. His commitment to coming back stronger is nothing short of incredible. He's a monster."
-Jared Allen
"Surreal. It's like a movie. A guy gets hurt that bad and comes back and makes a run at the all-time NFL rushing record. Things like that only happen in movies."
-Christian Ballard
"Freakish."-Brandon Burton
"Special. He's a special player and, from what he's gone through, this is a special season-not just for him, but for the whole team."
-Brandon Fusco
"Amazing. If it was anyone else. I would have said he wouldn't be the same after that. But to see what he's done this year has been incredible to watch. That's Adrian."
-Chad Greenway
"Historic. What he has accomplished is just unreal."
-Letroy Guion
"Epic. He's the best running back in the league coming off something that ends a lot of careers."
-A.J. Jefferson
"Scrumtrulscent. Will Farrell used that word on a parody of Inside the Actor's Studio on Saturday Night Live and I think it fits with A.P."
-Chris Kluwe. Leave it to Kluwe to quote a Will Farrell character.
"Unreal. You knew he would come back, but what he's done has been unreal to me."
-Andrew Sendejo
"Amazing. To be able to come back from that injury that fast and perform like he has. I'm not surprised, but I am a bit amazed at it."
-John Sullivan
"Ridiculous. I knew he was very good, but I had no idea that he could be this good."
-rookie kicker Blair Walsh
"Unbelievable. I don't think anyone expected him to do the things he's done, so unbelievable describes it best for him."
-Antoine Winfield
Adrian Peterson's teammates have come to expect the incredible from their dazzling running back. This past offseason and season took those expectations even higher.
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