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Vikings: Peterson earns monthly award

  • Article by: Judd Zulgad , Star Tribune
  • Updated: October 3, 2007 - 10:36 PM

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Adrian Peterson's impressive first month in the NFL did not go without notice. The Vikings running back has been named the league's Offensive Rookie of the Month for September. The NFL will make an official announcement today but the Vikings released the information Wednesday.

Peterson, the seventh overall pick in the draft last April, is fifth in the NFL with 383 rushing yards and is third with 549 all-purpose yards. He leads the NFC in both categories. He also has caught nine passes for 166 yards and took one 60 yards for a touchdown in the Vikings' 24-3 victory over Atlanta in the regular-season opener.

Peterson has three 100-yard rushing performances in four games to match the Vikings rookie record set by Chuck Foreman in 1973. Foreman went on to become the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

This is only the fourth time a Vikings player has received NFL Rookie of the Month honors, and Peterson is only the second offensive player to win it. Receiver Randy Moss earned the honor in November 1998. Linebacker Dwayne Rudd (December 1997) and defensive tackle Kevin Williams (December 2003) won it on defense.

"It's an honor to be selected," Peterson said in a statement issued by the Vikings. "I owe it all to the guys up front. They've done a great job creating opportunities for big plays in the run game and in the pass game."

Among those also under consideration for the Offensive Rookie of the Month award were Kansas City receiver Dwayne Bowe, Green Bay receiver James Jones and Buffalo running back Marshawn Lynch.

There was plenty of talk about Peterson following the Vikings' 23-16 loss to Green Bay on Sunday. The defeat dropped the Vikings' record to 1-3. Peterson had a career-high 112 yards on 12 rushing attempts, with 108 yards on 10 carries in the first half, but only two rushing attempts in the final two quarters.

Coach Brad Childress made it clear Monday that Peterson and Chester Taylor are going to get their fair share of carries. Peterson had 45 rushing attempts in the previous two games when Taylor was out because of a hip injury.

The Vikings have a bye this week, so Peterson and the coaches were not available for further comment.

Etc.

• Dan Marino has been retired for eight seasons, but even he feels he could have hit Greg Jennings last Sunday on the touchdown pass that moved the Packers' Brett Favre past Marino for the career lead with 421 scoring passes. "I love Brett, but I could have thrown that no problem with the blitz and the guy playing outside the tackle," Marino said on this week's edition of HBO's "Inside The NFL."

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com

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