So let's see if we have this correct:

*Player A is in the prime of his career. But in the first-season of a massive eight-figure contract extension with a Minnesota team, he came down with a lower body injury. When it became apparent that his team was going nowhere in 2011, fans had a choice to make: Demand that he continue to attempt to fight through his ailments or agree that resting him might be the best course of action. For the most part, they chose to demand that Player A should persevere, unleashing comments such as this on on a Star Tribune story:

This guy is a wreck, and quit on his team. ... Ever heard the term "playing hurt," (Player A)? He's become the poster boy for the danger of signing these prima donnas to lucrative long-term contracts.

*Player B is in the prime of his career. But in the first-season of a massive eight-figure contract extension with a Minnesota team, he came down with a lower body injury. When it became apparent that his team was going nowhere in 2011, fans had a choice to make: Demand that he continue to attempt to fight through his ailments or agree that resting him might be the best course of action. By and large, they tended to agree that resting Player B and saving his strength for 2012 is the best idea, as evidenced by this comment on a Star Tribune story:

Rest him for the rest of the year and secure a top 5 pick in the process. No sense wearing him down over games we have little chance of winning.

Player A is, of course, Joe Mauer. Player B is, of course, Adrian Peterson. And yes, we are well aware there are more circumstances at play than the simple (and convenient) parallels we outlined. Each player's willingness to play is obviously a factor. So, too, is the seductive power of the immediate help from the NFL draft as opposed to the years-away potential of the MLB draft. And yes, bilateral leg weakness happened very early in the season, while the sprained ankle came much later.

We just find the majority collective mentality toward the two players to be interesting. While Mauer received our scorn and needed to be on the field fighting through his injuries as the Twins slogged to a last-place finish, Peterson needs to be rested and protected as the Vikings slog to a last-place finish.

Similar situations. Vastly different reactions.