Peterson's workout was done with a heavy heart

Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson solidified his place in the top seven of the NFL draft with one of the best combine workouts by an elite prospect. Few knew at the time just how amazing the workout really was.

By Mark Craig, Star Tribune

Last update: April 28, 2007 - 10:47 PM

Late on Feb. 24, the night before his workout, Peterson discovered that his stepbrother, Chris Parish, had just been shot and killed in Houston.

There were discussions between Peterson and his agent about backing out of the combine. Everyone would have understood and, besides, Peterson easily could have worked out for teams at Oklahoma's pro day in March. Most top prospects skip the combine workout anyway.

But Peterson decided he would go through with the workout. After missing seven games last season because of a broken collarbone, he was determined to prove himself.

At about 3 a.m. on Feb. 25, Peterson tried to get some sleep. He knew that four hours later, his wake-up call would come and his workout would soon begin. Peterson responded with a 4.38 40-yard dash and a 38½-inch vertical jump. At 6-1 and 217 pounds, that's about as good as it gets.

Vikings coach Brad Childress was among those impressed by Peterson's strength and competitiveness that day, and overall.

"He just loves to compete," Childress said. "There's nothing, whether he can do it well or not, that he is not going to succeed at, and I love that in a guy."

Peterson's nickname, by the way, is "AD," as in "All Day." He got it as a kid because he was in constant motion.

A tough childhood in Texas

Peterson grew up in Palestine, Texas, and although he's only 22 years old, he has experienced his share of heartbreak.

When he was 7, his older brother, Brian, who was 8, was struck and killed by a drunken driver while riding his bike. Adrian witnessed the accident.

When he was 13, Peterson's father, Nelson, was arrested for laundering drug money and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He didn't see his son play football in person until last season.

From bench to draft

Fresno State cornerback Marcus McCauley, the Vikings' pick in the third round, might have been a first-round draft pick -- possibly even as high as a top 10 pick, some analysts have suggested -- had he not had such a poor 2006 season.

After a standout junior season, McCauley, a 6-1, 200-pound corner with 4.4 speed, reached a career low point eight games into his senior season. With Fresno State stuck at 1-7, he lost his starting job and never got it back.

McCauley said Saturday night that he "tried to overdo things" because the team was struggling. He said he tried to "do other people's jobs" and it resulted in him getting beat deep more often than in 2005.

"I was making as many good plays as the year before, but I would give up a play here and there," McCauley said. "I got benched, but I never had a chance to redeem myself. Teams would ask me how will you recover when you get beat because you're going to get beat in this league. I said if you give me an opportunity I'm going to come back from it."

The Vikings are giving it to him. He will compete for the nickelback job.

"He is a kid that played very well and probably should have went in the first or would have been one of the top corners," said Rick Spielman, Vikings vice president of player personnel. "His senior year [he] did not play as well. Fresno State did not have a great year. But you can still see the skills are still there."

Etc.

• The Vikings sold out their annual draft party at Winter Park. The event, which began at 8 a.m., attracted more than 3,000 fans.

• Peterson wore No. 28 at Oklahoma. He said he isn't sure what number he will wear. No. 28 is taken, but it belongs to a practice squad player, cornerback Patrick Body.

Mark Craig • mcraig@startribune.com