Adrian Peterson Signs

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Vikings have agreed to terms with running back Adrian Peterson, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2007 draft.

Per Schefter, Peterson has signed a five-year, $40 million contract, with $17 million in guaranteed money.

Schefter adds that the base value of the five-year package is $25 million.

Peterson is the latest player drafted in the top 16 picks to sign a deal for less than the maximum term of six years.

The maximum annual average of $8 million is actually greater than the average value of LaDanian Tomlinson's contract, who signed nearly three years ago an eight-year, $60 million deal. But it's not presently known what Peterson will have to do in order to cash in on the $15 million or so in incentives.

Now get your butt in camp rookie, and please stay healthy!

Purple Pride Ponderings: 2007 Camp Preview

****Note****
This was originally written on Wednesday July, 25th and a few items have changed since then, such as the signing of WR Sidney Rice. Stay tuned for more of my takes on training camp and the up coming season. Don't forget that I'll also sprinkle a few gaming and technology topics on this lovely blog.

Purple Pride Ponderings
Camp Preview
July, 25 2007


Well, today is the day that players and coaches arrive in Mankato, the site where Vikings Training camp has been held for 42 years running. If your wife or significant other is anything like mine, today sends a chill through their bones and reminds them that summer really is coming to an end (though that’s a tough sell with 120 degree heat index in the Twin Cities today). She may roll her eyes as I set myself for the upcoming season - which includes Fantasy Football drafts, trips to training camp, pre-season game viewing mediocrity, and over zealous Super Bowl dreams (not to mention running three boys to football practice and games), but she still loves me and knew about this NFL baggage when she married me.

In light of all the negativity that surrounds the NFL right now (and the NBA, and MLB, and even the PGA now!!??), let’s get into this year’s Training Camp Preview.

Signature Please
The one thing I can’t stand about the business side of the NFL is the way in which rookie signings are managed. In the NBA, all the draft picks, even the top ten guys, are signed right away and are participating in Summer Leagues. That assures that come training camp, they are all there and ready to go. Not the case in the NFL, instead, we get to sit back and watch greedy agents play their little chess game with the first round guys which leads to many not participating in the first few days (even weeks sometimes) of camp. This is nothing but a major set back in my opinion. But, I guess that’s why they have all the mini camps and OTA’s well before training camp opens.

As of this writing, none of the top 14 picks in the draft have been signed, which of course includes Adrian Peterson. While today is the reporting day, Friday is the actual first day of practice. Hopefully he’ll get signed in time for that, but that would mean picks six and or eight would need to be signed first thanks to the ridiculous way NFL signings work. From what I hear, Sidney Rice is expected to sign sometime today, our savior at WR……..uh, yeah.

Give the Kid a Chance
It’s no secret that the Vikings have the league’s worst group of QB’s (and WR’s). But, that does not mean that one in particular can’t rise above all the negativity and prove that he’s a NFL quarterback. All this press about how the season hinges on how Tavaris Jackson plays is a little off par to me. If anything, it comes to those around him, or more importantly, those protecting him. The offensive line will have to step and play as they look on paper. It’s not fair to judge Jackson off of a couple of end-of-the-season, worthless games from last year. He wasn’t even at the electrifying 100% that we saw in the preseason last year. It’s no secret that the offensive line under-achieved last year so now it’s time for them to step it up. This is a line that should have had time to jell and will be expected to protect a raw second year QB and open monster holes for the potential dynamic duo running backs.

D Better without Tomlin?
You better believe it. Tomlin came in and did some great things and helped turn the Vikings into a run stopping machine. As is known around the league, the pass defense was a completely different story. Sure they were near the top of the league in interceptions and take away’s as a whole, but the secondary gave up more yardage than a one-on-one drill involving Fred Smoot and Steve Smith. Enter Leslie Frazier, a coach whose resume is as great as the ’85 Bears team he played for. He has helped improve the defense of the Eagles, Bengals, and most recently and notably, the Colts. Dungy brought him on last year as a Special Assistant to himself as well as the Defensive Backs coach. The Colts passing defense improved from 15th in 2005 to 2nd in 2006. There’s no doubt that the Vikings’ rush defense will remain solid thanks to Williams’ plugging the middle for yet another year. Add Erasmus James and linebacker Chad Greenway (who missed the entire season last year and will be a big help in nickel coverage) into the mix this year and you have the potential for a solid defensive unit overall. One thing that must improve is the pass rush though. Look for second year player Ray Edwards to make a move in camp and earn the starting job at right end.

That’s a Wrap
That’s it for now, I’ll get more in-depth as camp moves on and we get a couple of preseason games out of the way. I know there was way too much of a positive tone laced throughout this article, but hey, it’s the very beginning of training camp, every team is 0-0 and we are supposed to be optimistic about our teams, right? Trust me, I’ll do my fair share of savaging this team as camp moves on (and I’m sure it will start with the first pass Williamson drops – so in other words, very early).

Football season is here boys and life is good……..for now.


Keith Michaels
venomlace@yahoo.com