Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

The most in-depth article I have seen on Peterson here. Warning to those with a short attention span ... it is long, but well worth the time.

Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'

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DAN POMPEI
JULY 11, 2017

METAIRIE, La. — It was late April, time for Adrian Peterson to make a decision about his future.

He was back home in Houston after a free-agent visit to New Orleans. He was praying for a sign. Saints? Patriots? Seahawks? Another team? Then one day he was looking for a duffel bag in his home office. Things were out of place because the house was being cleaned, and he couldn't find the bag. So instead he grabbed a black leather bag he'd had for years. It had a piece of tape on it. Peterson had forgotten why it was there. He tore off the tape.

And there was his sign.

The logo of the New Orleans Saints.

For many, it is difficult to think of Peterson representing anything other than the Vikings. Over the past decade, he was the Vikings. When you thought of the Vikings, you thought of Peterson going through defenses like wildfire through dry brush.

Until the last few years. In 2014, he played only one game as a result of a suspension stemming from child abuse charges. Then last season, he tore his meniscus in the second game. He returned late in December but was not himself.

And without Peterson as its driving force, the team's offense evolved. His coaches came to think he didn't fit as well as he used to. He was closer to the end than the beginning. His contract called for him to make $18 million. When they chose to make him a free agent, it wasn't even a surprise. No one reacted harshly to the decision. Not media. Not fans. And not Peterson.

"It was time for a change of scenery," he says. "I wanted to do something different. I knew a change was needed."

There was no doubt he no longer belonged in Minnesota.

He belonged in New Orleans. But why? Surely the answer wasn't just a duffel bag.

The reason has something to do with Sean Payton.

It was Payton who drove the Saints' pursuit of Peterson, and Payton who is trying to derive something special from him.

When Peterson found out the Saints were interested in him, he called his old college teammate Clint Ingram, a linebacker who had spent time with the Saints.

"I told him Coach Payton was one of the sharpest coaches I've ever been around," Ingram says.

During Peterson's recruiting visit to the Saints, Payton met him for breakfast at the Ritz Carlton. The pancakes, eggs over medium and hash browns from the buffet went down easy, as did the sales pitch from Payton.

"I loved his honesty," Peterson says. "He was straightforward. I could sense he really wanted me to be a part of the organization. All coaches want to win, but you can see it more with him. He's very passionate about what he does. About 98 percent of the time, he was doing the talking."

Payton also asked some questions. He wanted to know Peterson's favorite runs. Peterson's answer? Power and Duo. These have not been staples of the Saints' running game in the past. But that might be changing, and luckily the team has a fullback in John Kuhn who can help make it work.

"There are certain runs that he values over others," Payton says. "Well then I value them, too."

Kuhn says the best thing about Payton is he looks to create matchups based on his personnel.

For nearly every game of his career, Peterson has been the focal point of the opposing defense. That should change with Drew Brees as his quarterback. Payton wonders what Peterson can do against seven in the box.

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He'd also like to see what he can do after catching a pass in space against lone defensive backs. Peterson is reputed to be a rundown player only with average ability as a receiver and pass protector. The Saints present an opportunity to show this pony can turn more than one trick.

Peterson has had more than 400 receiving yards only once in his career. This year, he'd like 500.

"I was attracted to playing with Brees, a guy who is good at distributing the ball to different players," Peterson says. "I know in this system, I'll get some opportunities to catch the ball in space. Drew Brees, he'll get the ball to me."

If anyone can reimagine Adrian Peterson, it's the head coach of the Saints.

Lots more here ...

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Another great snippet here ...

________________________________________

On his first day in the Saints' weight room, Peterson approached a group of players doing box jumps.

"We were feeling pretty good about ourselves because we were jumping at a pretty good height," Kuhn says.

Peterson eyed the box, which was 42 inches high. He lined up to jump. And instead of jumping with two legs, as his teammates had, he nailed the jump with just his left leg. And then he did it with his right—the one that was surgically repaired last season.

His teammates were stunned. "That was kind of the, 'Hey, I'm here,' moment," Kuhn says.

There had been a similar moment a couple of weeks earlier at O Athletik, the Houston gym that Peterson owns. His trainer, James "Coop" Cooper, tested Peterson in a superset of four exercises. First, bench pressing 300 pounds. Peterson nailed 12 reps. Then pullups. Peterson hit 20. Next was bench pressing 225 pounds. Peterson made it to 20 presses. Last was squatting 425 pounds. Peterson did it eight times. All with no rest between sets.

"That's a really good PR (personal record)," says Cooper, who has been working with Peterson for eight years. "He normally wouldn't be near that kind of PR until May, and he was there in late March."

Also working out at O Athletik are running backs Melvin Gordon of the Chargers, Ty Montgomery of the Packers and Joe Mixon of the Bengals.

"These guys are no jokes," Cooper says of the younger backs.

But Cooper says Peterson is either ahead of them or even with them in terms of speed, cutting ability and being able to come out of breaks.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

I really feel like Peterson is the real thing. With Brees, Ingram, Peterson, Kamara, Kuhn, Thomas, Snead, Ginn and Fleener the Saints offense can be unstoppable.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

That piece right there is a good one.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Oh Brother 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0,..............! It was clever ONCE!

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

We had 10 rushing TDs Ingram and Hightower combined. I think that is going to look a lot different. That's AP's career average including the two bolo years. Granted, he is not the solo feature RB right now but I see our rushing TDs going up double or more. Tea leaves are saying it will be much harder shut us down in the RZ.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Different offense, different coaches and a different coaching philosophy make past history just crap. That being said, I'm still thinking AP's gonna have a great year along with the rest of the team.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

That was a great article. Really glad they came back around to how AP ended up w/ a Saints duffle in the first place. He was "riding with the Saints" since long ago. And a saint is just a sinner who gets back up...man that's good stuff!

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Yup. I hope everyone takes the time to read the entire article, but I know there will be several that don't. Their loss.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Sometimes you've just gotta' have faith and look for a sign.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

2 things I took away from the article

1. Is the cap situation so bad that he had to take AP to the buffet at the Ritz
2. Why didn't AP either not buy a Saints bag, or throw it away instead of just putting tape over the logo. Hell he could have easily cut the stitching away from it.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

He's got a chip on both shoulders but not anywhere near his knees please!

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

I really think a lot of other teams are going to kick themselves for passing on him. I think we get a year out of him performing at an above average level. I'll be fine with that.
No matter what people are going to have to respect the run. He may not do it as often but they'll know that at some point he's going to rip one off.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

He is right about Gore at 33 hitting 1,000. No reason he can't do it other than limited carriers which Payton said he is going to feed the hot hand. Ingram also seemed to go Wolverine with internal competition. Going to be fun watching if that goes down even if one is not a Saints fan. I would totally watch AP on another team (not the falcons) just for the hell of it.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

You obviously were too lazy to read the article. That explains number two completely. And the cap isn't affected by meals.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Well we are one of the leaders in dead money...again, and rumor is Benson does cut back the discretionary spending on meals for free agents when we mismanaging our cap like this.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

You are full of $hit. Dead money would have been spent anyway and it is less the non-guaranteed portion. That is not mismanaging a cap. It is making bad personnel moves which I think we can all agree was in the past.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Loomis and company should have an account at the Red Lobster at least. ;p

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

By the way, have you ever stayed at the Ritz in the French Quarter?

Me neither, because everything is top dollar. Even the breakfast buffet.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Duo have to have a good blocking TE. I'm not a playbook warrior but I know that much. And Power the MLB, need to research those in our division. If any team has a deficiency at that position I see them getting a heavy dose of AP.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

AP coming out of okla. with the doubt of the shoulder and team after team passed and he made them pay, your thinkin what i'm thinkin, yep he'll make um pay again in 17. ps didnt moss get his jump in minipop also.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Nice find, Guido.

I too am anxiously optimistic.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

and yes to the article it was a nice read.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Personally I can't wait to see him in action. I think we are going to really see things we haven't seen from any running back we have had in the recent pass. This guy can take it to the house on any giving play. He has power and break away speed something that I don't think Mark Ingram has.
It's going to be fun to watch.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Obviously you have no clue as to what humor is either. Guess you were to busy looking for the negative in my post and it went right over your head.

Set and match spb. See how easy it is?

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Yes. I've worked at the Ritz and the buffet sucks compared to the majority of other hotels in the area. Buffets suck period. If you have admittedly never been how can you say it's top notch?

The last time any buffet in the city was relivent was when Rene Bajeux was at the Windsor Court Hotel in late 90s

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

If he picks up steam early our games will have a massive audience. People want to see the magic before it goes off into the sunset.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

He could potentially have the effect that Reggie did. bringing the Saints back as a nationally popular team to route for.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Yeppers. Misses the laughs because he is on his negativity crusade. It is honestly getting a little old and silly, but whatever.

Same as my post about Benson and the cap etc. Clear joke meant to be humorous but he goes off. Hence why he is ignored. It is pointless. I just let him steam in his disdain for dissenting opinions on a football chat forum, lol.

He's prolly hell of fun at parties and buffets

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

Know what, the additions of AP and Kamara make our backfield so much improved or at least potentially from last season. That is what I am most excited to see, our run game.

Re: Prepare for AP 2.0: 'He Is Still Going to Be in That Upper 1 Percent'
 

He won't go anymore since the invention of the sneeze guard. The very thought that they are there for safety and sanitation insinuates negativity towards the staff and other customers. I can here it now "the thought that someone may sneeze or not cough in their hands is just negative. If you just think positively people won't spread jerms"
It's ok though someone can last a good 4-5 more years before eventually dying from food poisoning.