On the NFL: Not every rookie can be Peterson

If Adrian Peterson is "AD" as in "All Day," then meet the NFL's "NA" as in the "Non-Adrian."

His name is Robert Meachem and he should be more of a household name than he is. Or maybe is.

While the Vikings' Peterson was setting NFL records, winning Pro Bowl MVP and filming more commercials than Mr. Whipple, Meachem earned only one distinction at the opposite end of the rookie spectrum. A dubious one in that he was the only 2007 first-round draft pick not to play last season.

And we're talking not a single game day spent in uniform for the New Orleans Saints receiver.

"Oh my God, it was driving me crazy," Meachem said by phone last week. "And not just because I was a first-round pick. As a competitor, it drives you nuts when someone says you can't compete. I'd practice, but every week I couldn't go out and find out what the NFL was all about."

The University of Tennessee standout was drafted 27th overall, 20 spots lower than Peterson. Two months later, he had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Meachem went through rehab following the relatively minor surgery. But Saints coach Sean Payton detected a limp, so he held Meachem back. And he never let go, other than to let the talented 6-2, 214-pounder practice on a limited basis.

"Coach saw something I didn't, and he knows what he's doing," Meachem said. "It was a sign from God to be patient. But it wasn't easy. "

Meachem's mother, Beverly Meachem, kept calling her disappointed son.

"'Keep praying,' she'd say," Meachem said. "'Stay in your Bible,' she'd say. 'Stay patient.'"

Meachem's girlfriend, Andrea Rhodes, helped. But the real motivation came from little Adrianna, Meachem's daughter.

"She lives in Memphis, and she's only 2," Meachem said. "She doesn't know she's my motivation. But she is."

This story doesn't have a happy ending yet. After all, it's still preseason. But there has been one night -- Aug. 7 -- worthy of a sideline bear hug from Payton and 400 postgame text messages.

"I know it's the preseason, but it was like a dream come true," said Meachem, referring to his four catches for 129 yards and one dazzling 60-yard TD in a 24-10 victory at Arizona. "I've been waiting a long time for that."

Meachem's touchdown came on a short pass over the middle from backup Tyler Palko on third-and-6. Meachem broke two tackles, juked four other would-be tacklers and took off as the Saints sideline erupted for the guy known only for not playing.

The Saints were 7-9 last season, but they still have one of the NFL's most explosive offenses with Drew Brees able to distribute the ball to Marques Colston, Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey. Payton is still auditioning for the No. 2 receiver job among David Patten, Devery Henderson and Meachem, who followed his preseason opener with one catch for 11 yards in a 31-27 loss to Houston last week.

Meachem was asked where he would place himself on one of those trendy fantasy football "sleeper" lists. He laughed.

"Where would I rank?" Meachem said. "I want to be the guy at the top. But I have to keep working hard to have a chance."

Meachem was then asked what his role will be this season. Starter? No. 2 guy? No. 3?

"My role?" he said. "My role is to make big-time plays."

On Oct. 6, the Saints and their "Non-Adrian" play host to the Vikings and "All Day." Who knows, if the Vikings' pass defense is as suspect as it's been the past two years, Meachem could take a big step toward making people forget that his rookie season was opposite in every way possible from Peterson's all-world debut.

"Last year was hard to describe, hard to put into words, except it drove me nuts," Meachem said. "This year will be different. I think it will be a blessed year."

Mark Craig • mcraig@startribune.com