Many people feel that Adrian Peterson is rushing his recovery from ACL surgery that took place a mere 8 months ago. However, most of these people have never played football, let alone tried to play football after ACL surgery, let alone in the NFL.
One guy has done done all three, Jerry Rice.
The greatest receiver of all-time recently sounded off on Peterson’s plan to play week 1:
“I cracked my patella. I feel that I rushed myself back to the football field. And I think that with Adrian Peterson, he’s doing the same thing. Because we are accustomed to being out there with the guys, sweating with the guys, fighting on the football field. And if you’re not able to do that, you just don’t feel connected. And that’s the reason why I rushed back. I hope he doesn’t do the same thing.”
“I thought I was invincible. I felt I did all the work, and it was time for me to get back on that football field. But if I had to do it all over again, I would take more time to heal up, then come back.”
Of course Rice is referring to the fact that he returned from an ACL tear that happened in week 1 of the 1997 season, in only four months. The end result was a broken knee cap. Coincidence?
I think Rice has a valid point, and a good example to back it up. However, that was 15 years ago, and he came back in 4 months. Not a coincidence.
I’ve said all along that if anyone is going to beat the odds when it comes to ACL recovery, it’s Adrian Peterson. Peterson is not normal, plain and simple. He’s a physical specimen, that will return to the top of his game, no doubt about it. He will be ready September 9th.
Will the Vikings be stupid enough to overuse him? Absolutely not. He will be on a carry count, and teammate Toby Gerhart will play a much bigger role. This is clearly the plan, and it’s one that will work.
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