Arizona Cardinals' 2007 Draft Strategy: We'll Pass on Adrian Peterson

Let's take a seat next to Michael J. Fox in his DeLorean, hit 88 mph and go back in time.

We've arrived in New York City at Radio City Music Hall. It's April 28, 2007. Brand new NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has already announced the first four picks of the 2007 NFL draft—JaMarcus Russell, Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas and Gaines Adams, respectively.  

Adrian Peterson is still on the board. Goodell steps to the podium.

For months prior to this moment, Arizona Cardinal fans rubbed magic lamps, wore their lucky socks and didn't change their underwear just to get to this moment—welcoming Peterson to the desert.  Playoffs, here we come!

Goodell announces, "With the fifth pick of the 2007 draft, the Arizona Cardinals select...Levi Brown." Wha?! Who? Can't be!

This Sunday, Arizona will line up against Adrian Peterson, the running back they passed on in the 2007 NFL draft. The reason? The Cardinals' think tank felt he was too brittle and would suffer a significant injury.

In college, Peterson suffered a significant injury in each of his three seasons.  

As a freshman, he suffered a dislocated shoulder. During his sophomore campaign, he fell victim to a high ankle sprain.  And as a junior, Peterson broke his collarbone diving into the end zone. After his junior season, Peterson had played in 22 of 31 games.  

He declared for the 2007 draft after his junior season. During pre-draft interviews, Peterson claimed that his collarbone was 90 percent healed. 

At the time, maybe there was good reason for Arizona to pass on Peterson. Besides, the Cardinals had Edgerrin James, who just came off his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season and was just re-signed to a large contract. 

Instead, the Cardinals selected Penn State offensive lineman Levi Brown. Brown was touted as one of the best offensive linemen in the 2007 draft.

After four years of play, Peterson and Brown are headed in opposite directions. 

From 2007 to 2010, Peterson has averaged over 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns per season, earning Pro-Bowl selections each year, among other honors. On September 10, he signed a seven-year deal worth $96 million. 

Levi Brown can be found on the opposite end of the spectrum. Profootballfocus.com rated Brown as the very worst offensive tackle in the NFL in 2010. Dead last.  

Brown is penciled in to earn—steal—over $17 million dollars from the Cardinals in 2012. Without major reconstruction of that final year of his rookie deal, the likelihood of Brown "protecting" Kevin Kolb in 2012 is nil.  

Even if Brown is willing to take a pay cut—whatever it is—it would be too much to pay for such a liability on the offensive line.

Arizona may have had good reason to let Peterson slip in the draft, but it doesn't help take away the "what if's" and "could have's" that linger in Cardinal fans' minds.  

Kinda reminds me of my brother's story about the five-pound bass that got away. If only he would've used a better lure.