Don't Look Now: Adrian Peterson May Be Running on Borrowed Time

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It's no secret that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is the best young back in the NFL today. 

Having exploded onto the scene with 1,341 rushing yards as a rookie and breaking the single game rushing record with 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers, Peterson only improved in 2008. Last season he ran for an astounding 1,760 yards, recording the best season by a Viking runner in the franchise's history.

However, as widely known as Peterson's dominance is, the short shelf life for an NFL halfback also recognized. In fact, the minor decline of 30 year-old LaDainian Tomlinson garnered Peterson the title as the NFL's top runner today.

A comparison to LaDainian Tomlinson is no doubt an honor in a number of ways. But when it's said and done, there are a few names that I'm sure Peterson—along with LT—would not like to mentioned in the same sentence with when it comes to winning. Those are the names of Hall-of-Fame caliber players Barry Sanders and Curtis Martin. 

What do they all share in common? A career's worth of ball-carrying brilliance, and an empty ring finger to show for it. 

Peterson is far from the same type of back as Barry Sanders was, but when examining farther, there are a number of similarities between the two. Like Sanders, Peterson was drafted into the NFC North to a franchise that is far from a championship organization with hopes to change that.

At first glance, it seemed as if both were capable. In 1989, Sanders rushed for 1,470 yards as a rookie and found the end zone 14 times. Peterson scored two fewer times on the ground with 12 TDs.

Although Sanders' outstanding rookie campaign was not enough to propel the Lions to the playoffs—they finished 7-9—it looked like the franchise had a star destined to launch them to the next level.

However, 10 years and 15,269 yards later, Sanders was yet to taste an NFL championship.

Many feel the lack of fielding a competitive team in Detroit was the reason Sanders retired early. Sanders' desire for a Super Bowl was more prominent than his desire to rewrite the NFL record books.

Now, on the brink of his third NFL season, Adrian Peterson takes the back seat to an even bigger name that is dominating the Minnesota headlines: Brett Favre.

Peterson admits that he would love to play with a Hall of Fame quarterback.

"If he is a part of our team when the season comes around, we're going to welcome him with open arms and see where the chips fall."

Peterson also isn't hesitant to place his trust in Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress.

"I know our coach is going to do his job, and at the end of the day, his job is having the best team possible to win games," Peterson explained. 

"That's his job, so I'm going to let him handle his job and I'm going to do my job."

Now I pose the question: has Adrian Peterson misplaced his trust? Are the Vikings best suited going after an ancient Brett Favre, who is a shadow of what he once was? And is Brett Favre even enough to propel the Vikings to a championship caliber team?

Peterson was blessed  to already compete in the NFL Playoffs.

However, he has also been handed the ball by four different starting quarterbacks. 

Bring someone else to mind? That's right, as great as Barry Sanders was for such a long period of time, the Lions fielded 10 different starting quarterbacks during that time. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the Vikings have no shot. I have more faith in their organization than I do the Lions.

However, if persuading Favre to come out of retirement with an injured throwing shoulder and hoping he can work his magic once more is their best attempt at getting Peterson to the big dance, then it's time to get serious.

If they fail to do so, they may find Adrian over the proverbial hill at 30-years-old with more miles on him than even the most durable of stallions can bare.

And like legendary Barry Sanders...nothing to show for it.

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