Peterson wins AP honor while sharing the load
By JUDD ZULGADand KEVIN SEIFERT,
Star Tribune s taff w riters
Last update: January 2, 2008 - 11:00 PM
One question the Vikings faced entering this season was if they would be able to get the ball to running backs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor enough to keep both happy. Peterson and Taylor said Wednesday the team succeeded in this area.
"I mean we ended up being No. 1 in [the NFL in] rushing offense this year," Taylor said. "We both got enough carries. I had enough carries to say so myself. I'm pretty sure we did a great job."
Peterson, who was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, finished second in the league to San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson with 1,341 yards rushing on 238 carries, with 12 touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown. Taylor had 844 yards on 157 carries and seven TDs and also caught 29 passes for 281 yards.
"Chester took me under his wing and really helped me improve my game," said Peterson, who received 46½ of 50 votes in balloting conducted by the Associated Press. "Our connection is real good and I can just continue to see that grow."
Taylor rushed for a career-high 1,216 yards and had 345 touches (303 rushing, 42 receptions) in 2006 after signing a four-year, $14.1 million free-agent deal that March. While there was an assumption Taylor might not want to share the workload, he probably benefited because he didn't wear down the way he did in December 2006.
Both Taylor and Peterson missed two games because of injury. Peterson's absence was caused by a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee suffered Nov. 11 at Green Bay. He rushed for 100 yards only once in five games after his return but would not blame the injury. "I would say it is completely healed," he said. "I am still going to rehab and just continue to get it stronger."
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Peterson wins AP honor while sharing the load
Peterson wins AP honor while sharing the load
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