How sharp will Adrian Peterson be tonight when a national TV audience watches him make his return to the NFL?
Peterson will be a major storyline and is part of the reason ESPN chose the Vikings-49ers game in California as part of a Monday night TV doubleheader. The Vikings famous running back played in only one regular season game last year because of the incident involving his four-year-old son. He also didn’t participate in any of the team’s five preseason games this summer.
Darrell Thompson, the Rochester native and Gophers all-time leading career rusher, played five seasons in the NFL for the Packers. Thompson expects there will be some “rust” in Peterson’s play tonight but it will likely be subtle—things observers won’t even notice.
“Maybe miss a cut (running) that…he might see that we probably wouldn’t really notice,” Thompson said. “He’s always in great shape, so he will attack the line of scrimmage. He’s going to attack the tacklers. I think he’ll do fine.”
Thompson’s last season in the NFL was 1994 and he retired at age 28. He couldn’t pass a physical examination and his problems included arthritis. He had been through four demanding years with the Gophers and six more in Green Bay. “Ten years of pretty hard wear and tear on your body doesn’t leave you in very good shape,” he said.
Peterson is 30 and that number can be labeled old age for NFL running backs. But Peterson has shown remarkable conditioning and resiliency including his comeback season in 2012 when he rushed for 2,097 yards after offseason knee surgery.
Thompson said NFL players, including running backs, are taken care of better than when he played—another factor in Peterson’s favor as he enters his 30s. Those factors include less contact and running in practices, better rehabilitation resources, and improved nutrition.
“I would say he’s got a good three to maybe four, or even five years (left),” Thompson said about Peterson. “But probably a minimum of three.”
Peterson’s career-best season for rushing was in 2012 and six times he has gained over 1,200 yards since coming into the NFL with the Vikings in 2007. Thompson isn’t ruling out a 2,000 yard season but at a “minimum” expects 1,200 to 1,500 yards for Peterson.
“I like the way he plays. He plays hard,” Thompson said. “If you’re going to be successful, you’ve got to play hungry, with a little bit of a chip (on your shoulder). You would think someone told him he’s not a good running back. Every time he touches the ball he pretty much expects to score. …”
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had to play his rookie season in 2014 without Peterson. He let it be known last week how excited he is to have Peterson back on the team. “Man, you can just feel his presence from the moment he walks into this (training) facility that he’s ready to play. He’s had an entire year off and we’re excited for him. We can’t wait to watch him running wild on Monday.”
Worth Noting
Thompson was among the celebrities participating in the annual Bruce Smith Golf Classic at Faribault Golf Club earlier this year. About 100 golfers helped generate a profit of $8,500 to benefit Faribault schools. Since 1990 almost $201,000 has been raised for the schools. The classic is named after Smith, the only Gophers football player ever to win the Heisman Trophy.
Levi’s Stadium, the site of tonight’s Vikings-49ers game, is in Santa Clara, a city about 45 miles from San Francisco. When the 49ers moved out of Candlestick Park in San Francisco after the 2013 season the club kept the name San Francisco 49ers even though there has probably never been an American professional sports franchise that has its permanent home so far away from the city it represents.
Vikings punter Jeff Locke is also the holder for placekicker Blair Walsh who struggled with accuracy during the preseason. Locke said during practice last week Walsh was perfect on a string of eight field goals. “Absolutely killing the ball right now,” Locke said on Thursday. “I think going forward we’re going to see the Blair we know and love.”
Locke said it’s vital to place the ball on the ground at just the right distance for a placekicker’s approach on a field goal attempt. “If I miss a spot by half an inch (placing the ball), I am pissed,” Locke said.
Everson Griffen remains friends with former Vikings defensive line teammate Jared Allen, now with the Bears. Griffen visited Allen during the offseason in Arizona and the two worked out in Scottsdale.
Allen is involved with the Lodge Sasquatch Kitchen in Fort Collins, Colorado. A part owner, he was on camera last Friday night during a “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” Food Channel segment promoting the popular restaurant.
Four Minnesotans are listed in the Rivals.com top 150 prep basketball players for the class of 2017—possibly a record number for the state. The rankings posted last Wednesday include No. 14 Gary Trent, Apple Valley; No. 110 Goanar Mar, DeLaSalle; No. 113 Theo John, Champlin Park; and No. 147 McKinley Wright, Champlin Park.
Dick Jonckowski begins his 30th season of Gophers basketball public address announcing this fall. In the history of Williams Arena only Jonckowski and the late Jules Perlt have been full-time public address announcers for Gophers games there. It wouldn’t be surprising if Jonckowski is honored by the Minnesota athletic department during a game next season.
Jonckowski, who will start his 28th season of public address work for the Gophers baseball team next year, has for many years emceed banquets while entertaining with his storytelling. Last month he was the public address announcer at the American Legion World Series in Shelby, North Carolina and he also worked the series banquet.
The Twins begin an 11-game homestand tonight against the Tigers, then play the Angels and Indians. The Twins are 42-26 at home and 32-42 on the road. After this homestand, the club has only one series at home before the schedule ends so the most immediate games ahead will determine a lot about Minnesota’s wild card chances.
Twins first baseman Joe Mauer has reached base in 33 consecutive games.
Saints owner Mike Veeck said during the regular season his franchise drew 405,000 fans and played to 113 percent capacity in CHS Field, the new downtown St. Paul ballpark. The Saints were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday, losing 3-1 in a best of five games series with Sioux City. Veeck said this year’s team had the best chemistry of any Saints club he’s owned. “We’ve won with some clubs I didn’t like,” he told Sports Headliners.
Veeck described actor and comedian Bill Murray, another Saints owner, as “one of my best friends.” Veeck resides in Charleston, South Carolina and convinced Murray to live there too.
Canterbury Park’s racing season, the longest since 1992, ended on Saturday with an 11.3 percent gain in all-sources handle, the money wagered on Canterbury races both on track and out of state. The all-sources total, $41.13 million, was a record for the Shakopee facility. More than $14.1 million in purses was paid in 2015, an increase of 7.9 percent over 2014. The per-day purse average was a record $202,172. Average daily attendance increased 5.3 percent to 6,695.