Adrian Peterson and Second (or Third) Chances
Lindsey Young
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After spending a week in Mankato at training camp, I’ve seen a lot of Adrian Peterson. No personal interactions, but just observing him on the field, off the field, hanging out with teammates.
I’ve come to decide that he needs (deserves?) a second chance.
Remember earlier this year? I was ready to send Peterson packing. I had no interest in him playing for the Vikings again, and I wanted nothing more than to see him traded to just be done with all the drama.
When the very first report of the abuse incident came out, I had mixed feelings about the situation. I really felt there was a lot of truth to the idea that Peterson didn’t know a whole lot better, that he didn’t have cruel intentions. That it was a cultural/geographical difference in socially acceptable discipline. But still, he did hurt a child and didn’t use much self control.
I continued to “stick up” for AP, but then came the hearsay, the trade talks, the Twitter rant and of course the pot-before-a-court-hearing incident. At that point, I found myself completely fed up. All I could see was Peterson identifying himself as the victim and making poor decisions to back himself farther and farther into a hole.
I haven’t necessarily changed my mind about all of the above; he messed up, and in more ways than one. But in seeing him interact with family, teammates and fans at training camp, I am reminded of his good qualities that–I believe–are genuine.
Peterson’s wife and son Adrian Jr. visited a couple of practices, and watching him interact with his family was nothing short of endearing. (And yes, they visited camp last year as well). Peterson signed autographs for fans after almost every practice; on Friday, I witnessed him politely ask a security guard to let a group of kids approach him. At one point he took a cell phone from a fan to say “hey, what’s up? This is Adrian Peterson” to the fan’s brother on the other end.
Is this a publicity stunt? It could be. In fact, I’m sure part of it is very intentional on the part of the team, in an attempt to rebuild Peterson’s public image. But it’s nearly impossible for me to believe that Peterson is faking the cheerfulness and interactions.
His teammates couldn’t be happier to have him back on the team. Of course, as with the fans, I’m sure it’s partially because Peterson immediately improves their chances of winning. But again, you can’t deny the friendships and respect there. In April, one player told me that AP’s teammates badly hoped he would stay in Minnesota. In Mankato I talked with running back Matt Asiata, who called Peterson “a close friend” and someone he couldn’t wait to play with again.
If I know one thing, it’s that Peterson loves football. I’m also confident he loves his family and, believe it or not, he seems to love the Minnesota Vikings.
Did Peterson make a mistake? Or two? Or three? Absolutely. But he did receive the consequences, and it’s a new year. Am I saying this as a Viking fan who’s witnessed Peterson have a great camp? Maybe, yeah. But I’m also writing as someone who wants to see a person get another chance.