Vikings' Adrian Peterson says there's no dispute

The running back wanted to play in the fourth quarter but said he'll just be ready to do his best when called upon.

By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune

Last update: November 21, 2008 - 5:27 AM

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Adrian Peterson usually finds himself answering questions from the media. But Thursday he turned the tables on those assembled around him in the Vikings locker room.

Asked if he was surprised not to be on the field for the Vikings' final offensive drive in a 19-13 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday, the Pro Bowl running back responded: "Did it surprise you?" The answer, of course, was a resounding yes.

Peterson, the NFL's leading rusher with 1,100 yards on 225 carries and seven touchdowns, spent much of his offseason focusing on improving his pass protection skills so he could play in third-down and two-minute situations. But as was the case last season when Peterson was a rookie, those times remain largely reserved for Chester Taylor.

"I don't know if it was just the play call, just a different play that was designed for [Taylor] or whatever it was," Peterson said. "I'm just out there, I'm just playing my game. That's all I can do, that's all I can control."

Peterson also said the fact he was not playing was not the reason Fox television cameras caught him and running backs coach Eric Bieniemy in what appeared to be the end of a heated sideline exchange late in the game.

Peterson did not elaborate on what caused the disagreement but downplayed its significance.

"During a game it's really tense out there," he said. "We bump heads here in the facility, out there during a game. It's part of it. I guess they just caught it [on television]. ... It's kind of like being in a relationship. It's not always going to be good, but if you're able to solve whatever the issue is, it will be all right."

The Vikings used Peterson on a kickoff return in the fourth quarter Sunday to try to spark the special teams, but during a second half in which the Vikings ran only 20 plays overall and seven in the final quarter, Peterson touched the ball six times on offense and rushed for 14 yards. Other than the kickoff, he had zero touches in the fourth quarter.

Peterson finished with 85 yards on 19 carries, ending a stretch of four consecutive games with more than 100 yards rushing.

Despite the limited second-half workload, Peterson was sore enough Thursday that he was given the day off so he could rest. Peterson spent the time running in the pool, according to coach Brad Childress.

Peterson could have spent the time contemplating what might have been Sunday.

On the Vikings' final drive, the first play was wiped out by a pass interference penalty on wide receiver Bobby Wade that helped break up what could have been an interception by the Buccaneers.

Quarterback Gus Frerotte was sacked on first-and-20 from his own 26-yard line and on the next play Taylor lost the ball on a fumble after gaining 11 yards on a short pass play.

Getting Peterson in the mix certainly wouldn't have seemed unreasonable.

"The thing is this, we've all talked about how well Chester has done as a third-down back," Childress said. "Well, those are must-pass situations, and so there is no downside to having him. You're probably not going to run the ball, you've utilized all your timeouts to get the ball back in a couple of those situations. So [we] just want to have Chester in there.

"Obviously, Adrian would love to be in there but Chester got the nod."

Peterson admitted there was "no discussion" about why he wasn't in, but made it clear he has no reservations about playing in the two-minute offense.

"I definitely feel comfortable," he said. "I know it in and out. So like I say, I just do my job. When I'm called upon to go out there and try to make a play in whatever situation it might be, I'm definitely going to be ready for that."

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