Adrian Peterson Worthy of MVP? All Day

Man, he’s fast.

Very.

At the moment all eyes are on Adrian Peterson, the NFL’s most dynamic running back. Against his opponents on the ground, Peterson bursts through the seam and races down the field, then drives into the end zone. The beauty of the Vikings’ resurgence in the Twin Cities, a town where fans haven’t had much to be excited about, is because of Peterson’s phenomenal season. The Vikings have an idea on what the future beholds, with an indomitable running back, which is amassing superhuman numbers.

Funny thing is, however, some would argue that he’s not worthy of MVP, when he continues his assault on the single-season rushing record. Funny thing is, it’s debatable as to whether he should be named NFL’s Most Valuable Player. It should be obvious that he’s deserving of an honorable award, especially when he’s making a case that he’s arguably the best running back in the league when he’s healthy and not inactive on the sideline. In most respects, he’s the only running back to threaten and come close to Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 yards. At this point, mind you, Peterson is optimistic he can break Dickerson’s record on Sunday, with one game remaining on the schedule.

I cannot see Peterson, proving to be the finest rusher since Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith, being devoid of MVP talk. Just like that, faster than he can race for a touchdown, he’s finally revealed he’s an elite running back and even an MVP candidate, and indeed he should win the award, without much argument. There’s enough evidence to see that he’s playing like an MVP, with the Vikings in a fight for a wild-card spot as they can mathematically still make the playoffs, amid a season when Peterson is respectfully dominating in every rushing category as he cannot be denied but only contained. The strategy of handing the ball off to Peterson in a sequence of plays, since he’s racked up some ridiculous numbers, is a boon to the Vikings impressive season.

It doesn’t take a genius to see that the NFL is a pass-happy league, with the likes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning — the greatest NFL quarterbacks of the modern era. There’s no doubt Brady and Manning are top candidates, and to say they both aren’t favorites to win MVP, is just irresponsible and imprudent. No disrespect to Brady and Manning, but to be fair, Peterson is the greatest rusher of the modern era and deserves consideration.

The numbers don’t lie. For Peterson, for those who are unaware, his 1,812 yards is a league’s best — standing on the NFL Mountaintop. By far, he’s stringing together one of the most individual campaigns, and simultaneously is on pursuit to shatter a record no running back has ever broken. This season alone, Peterson has 1,313 yards in the past eight games and rushed for 150 yards or more in six games, one shy of tying NFL record in that category.

Just recently, he became the fourth player in NFL history to rush for at least 8,500 yards and 75 touchdowns over the first six seasons of an NFL career, with currently 8,564 yards and 75 touchdowns to fall in the company of Dickerson (9,915 yards and 75 touchdowns), LaDainian Tomlinson (9,176 yards and 100 touchdowns), and Smith (8,956 yards and 96 touchdowns).

It’s just the truth, no matter what people say about Peterson, refusing to acknowledge that what he’s mastered this season is beyond incredible. With his nifty footwork, his quickness and explosiveness, his firmness and ability to make defenders hesitate and make it hard to read the play, he is on the threshold of validating his place among NFL running backs. Roughly on his way to attain eminence, Peterson is looking to become the seventh tailback to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

This, more than anything else, is the best season of his exceptional career. It’s a time when he can be placed on Mount Rushmore of running backs. The most exceptional running back is easily the most superlative performer in 2012, and has climbed the mountaintop in the National Football League. If you don’t think AD is highly commendable, you are clueless and blinded by the reality of Peterson’s dominance. There’s a great chance he will win the award — the Most Valuable Player award. Peterson, should the Vikings (8-6) make it to the playoffs, would likely earn MVP honors.

Yet he plays on an inferior team with a struggling quarterback in Christian Ponder. The Vikings also featured receiver Percy Harvin, who sustained an injury. But Peterson, meanwhile, has made defenses fret as he poses a threat. In all, judging by the standings, the Vikings can miss the postseason, and Peterson’s spectacular season would go to waste if Minnesota misses out on all the fun as individual achievements don’t matter as much as team deeds. Now it just comes down to him executing and having another 200-plus-yard effort, coming off a 212-yard performance in a 36-22 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

If that happens, needing 294 yards in his final two games to surpass Dickerson, he could set a new record as an NFL back. In a quarterback-driven league, rarely does a running back fit the description. The odds, as usual, strongly favor Manning and Brady in the age when quarterbacks are often recognized. There have been 37 quarterbacks selected, with a combined record of 470-102-4 (.819).

The world’s biggest curiosity is Peterson, no matter what history says, no matter if the league’s most valuable player has rarely not led his team to the playoffs. There’s not enough promise to confirm he’s the winner, while leading the Vikings through a storybook season. And here’s guessing Manning is favored to prevail, playing for the hottest team in the league and turning the 11-3 Denver Broncos into Super Bowl hopefuls. The downside is, Peterson’s team isn’t nearly as flawless, let alone playoff bound.

Whether or not anyone thinks he merits the honors, which usually doesn’t happen for a running back, Peterson gets my vote. This is generally not a running backs league, known for satisfying quarterbacks and forgetting about every other player on the field. It would be a great accomplishment for Peterson. In recent memory, 55 winners have won an MVP in 55 years — only two of them were on teams that didn’t make it to the postseason.

It’s worth pointing out only four running backs have won MVP while playing for a wild-card team. Sanders’ name sounds familiar and Walter Payton’s as well, two winning backs who made it happen on 9-7 teams. The last we’ve seen a running back win MVP was when Tomlinson earned it on the account of fulgurous numbers. That year, he rushed for 1,815 yards and NFL-record 31 touchdowns, 28 on the ground.

All day, he’s the man of show business, a priceless specimen who overcame medical issues, after tearing his ACL and MCL less than a year ago. All day, he’s been tearing it up in the National Football League. Chances are he still won’t win MVP, although Peterson is the most astonishing athletes in the game today, bouncing back from injuries to likely also be NFL’s comeback kid. If he doesn’t win the award, it would be an insult to Peterson, when he’s convinced us that he’s not only the fastest man directing the greatest show on turf but also the man with otherworldly talent. So at this point, Peterson’s campaign is far more amazing to be ignored.

He’s amazed us with runs and created a compelling story every time he took a handoff this season and couldn’t be stopped. Now the most appreciated player in the game by far, Peterson is carrying out the unthinkable and certainly has been far more amazing than anyone else all season, with his size, a rare combination of speed and stamina. This year, it became apparent that Peterson has stated his case after putting in the hours and working diligently to recover from his health issues, rehabilitating with physical therapists and performing painstaking exercises to rejuvenate energy and motion.

There’s no doubt that he’s in good position to win. But don’t be surprised to see two-time winner Brady or four-time winner Manning win it again. We can only imagine what will happen — worthy of MVP status — now that Peterson is closing in on a record and could potentially carry the Vikings to the postseason. The MVP is an individual award, after all, not a team award.

My vote, however, goes to Peterson. All day.

Brett Favre: Enough With All the Weary Pondering, Just Come Back

Whether it has any relation to being described as an egomaniac or someone unwilling to yield the game in which wealth and fame enhanced a legacy, he doesn’t have to take us on another un-retiring/retiring saga. You’ve seen it before, his annoying pleads to return amid an offseason when Green Bay was settled and had promised the starting job to his successor, Aaron Rodgers.

You’ve seen this, perhaps, on a regular when he cries and gripes to ease his way back into the NFL. You’ve seen him change his mind, having a weary itch that grew obsolete as the days progressed.


He is, Brett Lorenzo Favre, an egomaniacal quarterback whose annoyance encouraged us to tell him how much he needed to stay away from the sport he absolutely relishes. Beyond all, he has never been a money freak, but allowed a selfish psyche to frustrate us all.

He has never been thrilled to wave goodbye, but elated to return and dominate as if he’s in his prime or a superstar quarterback producing raw talent.

But in Favre’s case, it’s needless to ponder a long-term or short-term future. Even we shouldn’t have to debate Favre’s next step, coming off of a miraculous season, a challenge veteran quarterbacks rarely muster in the late stages of an unforgettable career.

Because of a grand career in the NFL, it’s common speculating there’s nothing else Favre needs to accomplish. The average quarterback isn’t capable of nearly stockpiling the kind of passing records as Favre has done during a memorable pursuit.

He’s not done. For once, we could have a unanimous interest of welcoming Favre back. The football fanatics and regulars obsess with a sport that has evolved into a popular sport in America, aren’t done endorsing or applauding NFL’s top magnet.

But this time, Favre may actually be ready to call it quits after committing much of his life to a game where it takes complete devotion in a physical and mental state of mind to meet team standards.

At 40, the wear and tear on an aging body hasn’t been much of a problem, but spending less time with his wife, Deanna, and family has been irksome. So immediately following Sunday night’s dishearten loss, a contest in which Favre was battered and harassed by the Saints, he said it’s “highly unlikely” he’ll return for a 20th season.

If he opts to leave, he’s not relinquishing the game or quitting on his teammates. But if he decides to depart on good terms, he might strongly ponder if it’s the final time instead of announcing months later of a potential return.

Enough of the weariness begging to return before training game resumes. His customary intentions of imploring to un-retire, held the Packers hostage and resulted in a trade to the New York Jets a few seasons ago, a franchise he never desired playing for.

The narrow-minded front office made it clear that they were prepared to move forward, obligated to the ambitious Rodgers. There are speculations Favre came back, seeking vengeance against Packers’ general manager Ted Thompson after assuming he was shut out the door, unwelcomed for a changeable and selfish ethics, the kind of attitude that didn’t settle well in Green Bay.

To this day, disgruntled Packers’ fans describe Favre as a traitor, even though the organization rebuffed interest. Just to refresh memories, when he returned to a hostile environment he called home for 16 seasons, the unfriendly place chanted boos after he emerged strangely from the visitor’s tunnel at Lambeau Field.

Meanwhile he had the last word, and guided the Minnesota Vikings to a 2-0 regular season sweep over his former team to increase the bitterness.

At one point, he annoyed us crying to make a return. He desperately wanted his way or no way, expecting the NFL to express sympathy. Described as a diva, Favre proved to the world he’s still an expert of submitting all the elements it takes to benefit as a premier quarterback. Reaching milestones, breaking passing records, mastering brilliant arm-strength, you name it, Favre has it.

The average fan is long past the everlasting sagas, when he was featured on ESPN and Sportscenter as the most famous diva in sports and became the Worldwide Leader in Nuisance.

And suddenly, Sportscenter was renamed Favrecenter. Now days, we are generous to accept Favre back, excited for the action-packed fun he brings to the game. Without him, football is average. Without him, football isn’t football.

It shouldn’t take much discussing Favre’s status, coming off a season on a high note. Depending on how someone views it, there’s unfinished business and with enough in the tank Favre is a franchise quarterback.

In one season, the Vikings have benefited greatly, based on his experience and inspiration, but unfortunately fell short in the NFC Championship Game against New Orleans. Unsure of his status, Favre doesn’t have a timetable on a possible return.

However, the Vikings and coach Brad Childress might be curious to learn Favre’s decision in the next few weeks to avoid being victimized of the wishy-washiness that has created national disturbance.

If not, it won’t take long before a ruckus begets. If not, it won’t take long before weariness explodes and makes us tired of the unnecessary soap opera. If not, it won’t take long before he’s labeled as the egocentric coaches' pet by skipping out on training camp and mini-camp, preparations his teammates had to endure a year ago while he flew in on a private jet from the rural area of Mississippi and joined the team without undergoing the laborious task.


Favre doesn’t owe anything to fans or teammates. But it wouldn’t hurt to return, giving it another shot at leaving the game on top with a Super Bowl win. The Vikings are Super Bowl bound if he decides to play next season.

Whether he was desperate in finding a sound quarterback or eager to allow a good friend to teach the principles to a young and deep core, Favre was giving a chance to fulfill his urge to hurl passes on Sundays and produce sensational plays. He called him to reject the tracker lifestyle and persist in the football lifestyle.

It paid off in an unexpected season where he threw for 38 touchdowns and was amazingly picked off nine times. He also had sizable weapons, benefiting from the deepest wide receiving core, not to mention the solid running game that started off blazing.

But flaws are deadly, whenever talented All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson has ball security blunders. Otherwise, the Vikings are profound at receiver, an advantage for the gunslinger who found Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, or a versatile Percy Harvin often.

Having plenty of weapons should be enough to inspire Favre to remain in the league. And considering the unwise throw in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, by passing in the ball across the field to Saints’ safety Tracy Porter, he has unfinished business.

There’s a mission to be completed, but he must be willing to return. Why not? Favre still has a shrewd mind, a strong heart, and powerful accuracy, all the intangibles to win a Super Bowl.

I myself urge him to come back.

He must remember that he’s playing for a loyal owner. Zigy Wilf is expected to offer Favre a financial increase, greater than $13 million owed to him for the 2010 season. For the average Minnesotan, they’ll love to see him return, and hopefully next time they could reach the climax nearly accomplished this year.

Is there enough in Favre’s tank? Yes, indeed, he could dominate next season, too.

But he has to be willing to accept the challenge.

I’m hopeful for a return.