Minnesota Vikings: 5 Reasons to Just Shut Down Adrian Peterson

With two weeks left in what could possibly be the worst regular season in Minnesota Vikings history, the bad news is that things could get even worse.

The most iron-clad, purple-skinned Vikings fans who have taken solace this season in believing that at least the franchise quarterback and running back were in place.  

Those fans have taken some pretty big shots to the jaw the last two weeks as Christian Ponder has looked dazed and confused while playing his worst two games of the season, and Peterson has missed three games with a high ankle sprain.

While Ponder remains a question mark, the Vikings know what they have in Peterson: the best running back in the NFL when he's healthy. What could make this historically bad season even worse is losing any kind of value in their best player.

Here are five reasons why the Vikings should just shut down Adrian Peterson for the remainder of the 2011 season.

The Offensive Line Can't Protect Him

It's been written over and over, on this site and any other site that covers the NFL, that the Vikings offensive line is in shambles this season. While center John Sullivan has had his best season as a pro, the rest of the line has been far below-average and too often Peterson has absolutely nowhere to go the second he gets his hands on the ball.

Peterson was on pace for a 1,500 yard season before he injured his ankle, but that is a testament to Peterson rather than his blockers. While the line has done a better job on run blocking than in pass protection, they still have been pretty bad on the run.

Most of Peterson's large gains have come on the gaps on either side of Sullivan, where Peterson gets a glimpse of a hole before hitting the second tier of the defense.

Peterson proved once again, even on limited duty Sunday, that he's the Vikings best player and any sort of turnaround will depend on him being fully healthy and ready to go in 2012.

The Vikings are in line to draft a top notch offensive lineman in the draft and with possibly two or even three new starters in a refurbished line, Peterson can start fresh next season and have more room to run.

Peterson Can't Run Forever

Adrian Peterson is a 26 year old athletic freak who is in the middle of his prime years as a running back in the NFL. One thing no athlete who ever lived is able to understand is that you won't stay 26 forever.

In fact if my math is right, you'll only stay that age for 365 days. When the 2012 season starts Peterson will be 27. The shelf life for running backs in the NFL is very, very short.

It's true that Adrian Peterson is of another breed than most running backs, he's bigger, stronger and faster than just about all that have played the position. He is a workout warrior who keeps himself in better shape than just about all that have played the position.

Having said that, Peterson is indeed made of flesh and bone and every hit that he takes is adding miles to his proverbial odometer. In a two-win season, behind this line, Peterson is taking more hits than ever and for no possible good reasons.

Fantasy football owners aside, what good can come from using Peterson at this stage in the season? It's like holing a 25 foot putt for a triple bogey. Peterson is a true superstar and one of the few assets the Vikings have, putting him at risk for the rest of this season just makes no sense.

Peterson Wants To Play, the Coaches Can't Let Him

Peterson wasn't happy after only getting 10 carries in his return to the lineup on Sunday. Too bad. Vikings fans love that Peterson wants the ball and wants to be the focal point of the offense. There just aren't any good reasons at this point in the season to let Peterson play.

Anyone who's ever played sports and suffered a bad ankle sprain knows they usually only lead to one thing: more ankle problems. Now obviously Peterson is getting better treatment and attention than the guys playing hoops at the local YMCA, but there is no magic formula to healing a bad sprain other than time. 

The hope is that the Vikings waited until Peterson's ankle was fully recovered before putting him back in the lineup on Sunday, but even if it was, the ankle injury is exhibit A in the reasons that Peterson should be shelved for the season. It can happen on any play.

If it happens during a play when a 2-12 team is playing out the string, then shame on the coaches for having him on the field. Peterson will beg to play, that's what athletes do, but the coaches have to do what's best for the team in the long haul, and that's having Peterson fully healthy, with X amount less carries under his belt.

The NFL Is Not Full of Altar Boys

Adrian Peterson after Sunday's game against the Saints:

"Coming back from a high ankle sprain. Guys took their shots with me under the pile (when) I got twisted up and things like that. I felt like it kind of got a little overboard, so I got up and kind of got in his face. Just thank God I was able to keep my composure."

Saints cornerback Jabari Greer was clearly trying to twist Peterson's ankle during one tackle on Sunday. It's the NFL, it happens. If people know you are battling an injury, many of them will go right at your soft spot. If Adrian Peterson isn't in the game, the Vikings are easier to beat. 

Peterson played Sunday and came away seemingly unscathed, but with two meaningless games left, there is simply no reason to have him on the field. Of his 10 carries Sunday, at least eight of them had Peterson being brought down with Saints hanging on his ankles.

It only takes one hit, one play, one cut to re-injure a sore ankle. Let him heal fully and run another day, without taking hits and adding mileage for no reason.

Toby Gerhart Has Proved To Be a Solid Back-Up

Toby Gerhart has done a decent job filling in for Adrian Peterson. Gerhart is a tough, plodding runner who has also proved that he can catch the ball out of the backfield, giving Christian Ponder an option when his pocket crumbles around him.

Gerhart scored two touchdowns Sunday and proved to be versatile enough that the Vikings have a back that needs to be accounted for when Adrian Peterson is not on the field.

Gerhart has already become a better pass catcher than Peterson, for some reason Peterson has never become a viable receiving threat, either he can't catch, or the Vikings do a terrible job of utilizing him on passing downs.

Either way, Gerhart has proved to be dependable enough that the Vikings can comfortably leave Peterson to limited or no action in the final two meaningless games. 

The Vikings might do well to just have Peterson in the press box the last two games of the season and watch. Often times in all sports, athletes have talked about the value in seeing the whole field (or court, or ice) from up above and relating it to their own game and making adjustments accordingly. 

In the end there is no upside to playing Peterson in the final two games of a lost season. Sure, he's capable of breaking a long run on any given play, but it's the chance of anything else breaking that should keep Peterson on the sidelines.