Yep, the picture below definitely belongs in the book about the 2011 Vikings season. (Someone is going to write that epic, right?)

This, via Adrian Peterson's Twitter feed, shows you how the franchise's biggest star welcomed in 2012. In a hospital bed, just a day removed from having knee surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. That's just the way 2011 went for the Vikings, who finished the season on New Year's Day with a 33-26 home loss to Chicago.

Buy hey, at least Peterson seems to be in good spirits. Perhaps that's a promising sign that the misery of 2011 will be replaced by some upbeat glee in 2012.

Happy New Year, Adrian.