If Peterson’s career is over, what will his legacy be?

For both Vikings fans and outside observers, the highlight reels will live on. Peterson had 15 touchdown runs that went for over 50 yards and 21 that went more than 30 yards. That’s only one fewer from 50-plus than Barry Sanders. And he did them with a power/grace combination that was virtually unmatched in history.

If AP is done, he will go out as one of the few players whose jersey will be worn by fans 20 years from now. He will get a gold jacket in his first year eligible. He will be in the ring of honor and give a speech at the US Bank Stadium 50 yard line.

His highlight-reel runs will be remembered and missed, and his drama will be remembered and not missed. But for the most part, the Vikings’ success last year and expectations for this season had fans moving on pretty quickly, as they always do.

I think it depends on who you talk to. Some Vikings fans appreciate the player but the person not so much. Other people have no beef with him and appreciate his efforts. It's definitely polarizing though. 

I would still put Moss ahead if AD in terms of greatest Viking and wouldn't argue if others brought up guys from the 70s.  He was great at what he did,  but never really turned into a great Viking IMO.

None cheered harder than me when we drafted him....but him leaving was a relief.  Our time with AD was definitely a roller coaster of  emotions for most fans myself included and fair or not those low points will certainly contribute  in defining his legacy.

I agree with Jimmy. Moss was the most exciting player the Vikings ever had. AD is 2nd. Carter the most consistent. Forman the most versatile. Many blame AD or outright hate him for team failures. I never did. It all changed after the year he was sat down when he beat his kid for me. He was no longer the smiling happy guy who ran angry. He was always a me 1st kind of guy. I just ignored it. He played during a time the team was adrift. No direction or plan. Only plan they had was give him the ball and get out of the way. Against stacked fronts he broke teams backs. Many disliked him because he was so overpaid. Like the team really had any other marketable stars to pay. They couldn't draft or FA themselves jack $hit. They could have spent it elsewhere. Would it have made us better? They got luck once with AP.  Then he became unmarketable about the time the team finally got a vision and a identity. Then his time was done. Great player less great human will be how I remember him. That's on him not me.
I will always wonder if they could have had a better team around him what would have happened. Alas,  It may have only hastened his departure.

@"suncoastvike" said: I agree with Jimmy. Moss was the most exciting player the Vikings ever had. AD is 2nd. Carter the most consistent. Forman the most versatile. Many blame AD or outright hate him for team failures. I never did. It all changed after the year he was sat down when he beat his kid for me. He was no longer the smiling happy guy who ran angry. He was always a me 1st kind of guy. I just ignored it. He played during a time the team was adrift. No direction or plan. Only plan they had was give him the ball and get out of the way. Against stacked fronts he broke teams backs. Many disliked him because he was so overpaid. Like the team really had any other marketable stars to pay. They couldn't draft or FA themselves jack $hit. They could have spent it elsewhere. Would it have made us better? They got luck once with AP.  Then he became unmarketable about the time the team finally got a vision and a identity. Then his time was done. Great player less great human will be how I remember him. That's on him not me. I will always wonder if they could have had a better team around him what would have happened. Alas,  It may have only hastened his departure.

Will AP be the last time a RB is the face of a franchise? Zeke in Dallas? Bell in Pitt?

It's hard to imagine too many more with the league as pass happy as it is now and RB's asked to be multi-dimensional.

@"purplefaithful" said: Will AP be the last time a RB is the face of a franchise? Zeke in Dallas? Bell in Pitt?

It's hard to imagine too many more with the league as pass happy as it is now and RB's asked to be multi-dimensional.

I do agree that Peterson will probably be remembered more fondly by the national audience than by Vikings fans, because we're more acutely aware of his limitations as a player than other people are, whereas they probably only remember the highlight reels, but I don't think people will be including him in the "Greatest RBs of All Time" discussions, like people were suggesting earlier in his career.  I think he has fallen out of that category into that second tier of HOF RBs.

Time heals all ills. I've never completely understood why people turned on him in the first place, so I don't need the time. I'll remember him as the best running back we've ever had. The best combination of speed and power the NFL has ever seen. I'll tell my grandchildren that I watched his every carry in purple. I'll tell them about 296. I'll ask them if they want to see a BAD, BAD man and show them the one clip William Gay doesn't allow in his house. 

Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

Yeah, not to restart a topic this board has, well, beaten to death...that didn't enrage me the way it did others.  Peterson went too far and I think he probably realized that the minute he stopped. But I came from a family of Kansas farmers. It's how I was brought up. I got the switch many times. So did my father before me. And his father before him. Of course there were no photos to show the cuts and bruises. But time and culture changes. I wouldn't dream of hitting my kids. 

@"MaroonBells" said: Time heals all ills. I've never completely understood why people turned on him in the first place, so I don't need the time. I'll remember him as the best running back we've ever had. The best combination of speed and power the NFL has ever seen. I'll tell my grandchildren that I watched his every carry in purple. I'll tell them about 296. I'll ask them if they want to see a BAD, BAD man and show them the one clip William Gay doesn't allow in his house. 

The "playoff" performance isn't his issue as much the fact that the team rarely made the playoffs in his prime and when they did, Joe Webb was the QB. 

Speed, power, balance, violence and drive.  He had it all.  Defenses first tried to change completely to stop him.  Then when that failed, the backed off and conceded 4-5 yards in hope of limiting the huge gains.  Washington ran a 4-4 defense to stop him because we had TJ and Twill as our other weapons.   Last time these guys likely faced a 4-4 was probably 5th grade. 

Moss and Peterson are 2 sides to the same coin.  All world talent that came with some baggage.  Both made it to the NFCCG but came up short.  But they changed the game, defenses had to change and ultimately conceded that they would get large chunks but hoped to stop the backbreaking plays.  Moss had more talent around him, but although neither won the super bowl, they should be remembered as top 2-3 at their position.

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

Yeah, not to restart a topic this board has, well, beaten to death...that didn't enrage me the way it did others.  Peterson went too far and I think he probably realized that the minute he stopped. But I came from a family of Kansas farmers. It's how I was brought up. I got the switch many times. So did my father before me. And his father before him. Of course there were no photos to show the cuts and bruises. But time and culture changes. I wouldn't dream of hitting my kids. 

The bigger difference is it sounds like your father was your father year round. Married to your mother and a presence in the home. This kid was a 4 year old sent off to bond with his father a couple times a year. Harsh discipline is easier to except and learn from when dished out from someone who's a big part of your life. What could this 4 year old have learned from this visit?  I don't want to reopen any old wounds rehashed here. I wasn't here hashing then. I just couldn't look at him the same after that. That my take on him. He is the greatest RB we ever had. He was also seriously flawed morally in my eyes. More then how and when he decided to be a father.  

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

Yeah, not to restart a topic this board has, well, beaten to death...that didn't enrage me the way it did others.  Peterson went too far and I think he probably realized that the minute he stopped. But I came from a family of Kansas farmers. It's how I was brought up. I got the switch many times. So did my father before me. And his father before him. Of course there were no photos to show the cuts and bruises. But time and culture changes. I wouldn't dream of hitting my kids. 

The bigger difference is it sounds like your father was your father year round. Married to your mother and a presence in the home. This kid was a 4 year old sent off to bond with his father a couple times a year. Harsh discipline is easier to except and learn from when dished out from someone who's a big part of your life. What could this 4 year old have learned from this visit?  I don't want to reopen any old wounds rehashed here. I wasn't here hashing then. I just couldn't look at him the same after that. That my take on him. He is the greatest RB we ever had. He was also seriously flawed morally in my eyes. More then how and when he decided to be a father.  

@"greediron" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

Yeah, not to restart a topic this board has, well, beaten to death...that didn't enrage me the way it did others.  Peterson went too far and I think he probably realized that the minute he stopped. But I came from a family of Kansas farmers. It's how I was brought up. I got the switch many times. So did my father before me. And his father before him. Of course there were no photos to show the cuts and bruises. But time and culture changes. I wouldn't dream of hitting my kids. 

The bigger difference is it sounds like your father was your father year round. Married to your mother and a presence in the home. This kid was a 4 year old sent off to bond with his father a couple times a year. Harsh discipline is easier to except and learn from when dished out from someone who's a big part of your life. What could this 4 year old have learned from this visit?  I don't want to reopen any old wounds rehashed here. I wasn't here hashing then. I just couldn't look at him the same after that. That my take on him. He is the greatest RB we ever had. He was also seriously flawed morally in my eyes. More then how and when he decided to be a father.  

One thing that sticks out in my mind regarding that.  The kid was there because Peterson was trying to change and be more involved.  That year he had married his girlfriend and reached out to his kids from other women.  He had serious moral issues, but it appeared that he also recognized that and was trying to change. 

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

Yeah, not to restart a topic this board has, well, beaten to death...that didn't enrage me the way it did others.  Peterson went too far and I think he probably realized that the minute he stopped. But I came from a family of Kansas farmers. It's how I was brought up. I got the switch many times. So did my father before me. And his father before him. Of course there were no photos to show the cuts and bruises. But time and culture changes. I wouldn't dream of hitting my kids. 

The bigger difference is it sounds like your father was your father year round. Married to your mother and a presence in the home. This kid was a 4 year old sent off to bond with his father a couple times a year. Harsh discipline is easier to except and learn from when dished out from someone who's a big part of your life. What could this 4 year old have learned from this visit?  I don't want to reopen any old wounds rehashed here. I wasn't here hashing then. I just couldn't look at him the same after that. That my take on him. He is the greatest RB we ever had. He was also seriously flawed morally in my eyes. More then how and when he decided to be a father.  

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

Yeah, not to restart a topic this board has, well, beaten to death...that didn't enrage me the way it did others.  Peterson went too far and I think he probably realized that the minute he stopped. But I came from a family of Kansas farmers. It's how I was brought up. I got the switch many times. So did my father before me. And his father before him. Of course there were no photos to show the cuts and bruises. But time and culture changes. I wouldn't dream of hitting my kids. 

The bigger difference is it sounds like your father was your father year round. Married to your mother and a presence in the home. This kid was a 4 year old sent off to bond with his father a couple times a year. Harsh discipline is easier to except and learn from when dished out from someone who's a big part of your life. What could this 4 year old have learned from this visit?  I don't want to reopen any old wounds rehashed here. I wasn't here hashing then. I just couldn't look at him the same after that. That my take on him. He is the greatest RB we ever had. He was also seriously flawed morally in my eyes. More then how and when he decided to be a father.  

Yeah, turns out there are a hundred different viewpoints on that. I sorta come from the starting point of trying to respect other cultures, religions, belief systems even if I don't share them. I suspect a lot of folks put malice into Peterson's actions, and I doubt that's the case. He was likely just parenting the way he was parented. Doesn't really excuse what he did, but if you want to know why it doesn't make me crazy like it does some, well there ya go. And I couldn't give a damn how many kids or wives he had. 

@"SFVikingFan" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

Yeah, not to restart a topic this board has, well, beaten to death...that didn't enrage me the way it did others.  Peterson went too far and I think he probably realized that the minute he stopped. But I came from a family of Kansas farmers. It's how I was brought up. I got the switch many times. So did my father before me. And his father before him. Of course there were no photos to show the cuts and bruises. But time and culture changes. I wouldn't dream of hitting my kids. 

The bigger difference is it sounds like your father was your father year round. Married to your mother and a presence in the home. This kid was a 4 year old sent off to bond with his father a couple times a year. Harsh discipline is easier to except and learn from when dished out from someone who's a big part of your life. What could this 4 year old have learned from this visit?  I don't want to reopen any old wounds rehashed here. I wasn't here hashing then. I just couldn't look at him the same after that. That my take on him. He is the greatest RB we ever had. He was also seriously flawed morally in my eyes. More then how and when he decided to be a father.  

Yeah, it's hard to be a good father when you are basically out of your childrens' lives.  As a father of two young children, I look pretty harshly at men who go around getting multiple women pregnant and being mostly or completely absent from those kids' lives.  Plus then his children wouldn't be living with their moms' boyfriends who a lot of the times don't have the child's best interests at heart.  That exact situation definitely turned out horrifically for one of his children.  What he did on the football field is of far less significance in the big picture of things.

And that's not even mentioning his severe limitations on the field, or whipping his boy, or holding out for a pay raise after being suspended for a year, or the slavery comment, or........

2013 was really the last year that I was a fan of Adrian Peterson.

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"SFVikingFan" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"IDVikingfan" said: Maroon, for fairness and balance, make sure you tell your grandchildren about Peterson whipping his son with a switch.  Just cultural differences doncha know...  What happens on the field is all that matters...  He was a great football player but a terrible Dad.

Yeah, not to restart a topic this board has, well, beaten to death...that didn't enrage me the way it did others.  Peterson went too far and I think he probably realized that the minute he stopped. But I came from a family of Kansas farmers. It's how I was brought up. I got the switch many times. So did my father before me. And his father before him. Of course there were no photos to show the cuts and bruises. But time and culture changes. I wouldn't dream of hitting my kids. 

The bigger difference is it sounds like your father was your father year round. Married to your mother and a presence in the home. This kid was a 4 year old sent off to bond with his father a couple times a year. Harsh discipline is easier to except and learn from when dished out from someone who's a big part of your life. What could this 4 year old have learned from this visit?  I don't want to reopen any old wounds rehashed here. I wasn't here hashing then. I just couldn't look at him the same after that. That my take on him. He is the greatest RB we ever had. He was also seriously flawed morally in my eyes. More then how and when he decided to be a father.  

Yeah, it's hard to be a good father when you are basically out of your childrens' lives.  As a father of two young children, I look pretty harshly at men who go around getting multiple women pregnant and being mostly or completely absent from those kids' lives.  Plus then his children wouldn't be living with their moms' boyfriends who a lot of the times don't have the child's best interests at heart.  That exact situation definitely turned out horrifically for one of his children.  What he did on the football field is of far less significance in the big picture of things.

And that's not even mentioning his severe limitations on the field, or whipping his boy, or holding out for a pay raise after being suspended for a year, or the slavery comment, or........

2013 was really the last year that I was a fan of Adrian Peterson.

Yep he made himself hard to love. I separate the on field from the off. He gave me many great memories on the field. Some not so great off.