Vikings' Peterson cashing in on big season

Adrian Peterson stands to earn far more than notoriety from the fast start to his NFL career. Only five games into his rookie year, the running back is well on his way to netting an additional $2.7 million for 2007 to go along with the $1.54 million he is guaranteed.

Peterson, the seventh overall pick in April's draft, signed a five-year contract (a sixth year will void) in late July that contains $17 million in guaranteed money and could pay a maximum of $40 million if he reaches all incentives.

Two incentives included for this year are very attainable. The first is a payment of $2.45 million if Peterson rushes for 701 yards and participates in 45 percent of the Vikings' total offensive plays.

Peterson, who ran for a team-record 224 yards last Sunday at Chicago, leads the NFL in rushing and needs only 94 more yards to reach the 701 mark. Even if he continues to split carries with Chester Taylor, he should also reach the 45 percent mark.

A $250,000 incentive will be triggered if Peterson is named Rookie of the Year by either the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly or The Sporting News. At his current pace he might be voted Rookie of the Year by all three.

His cash windfall certainly won't stop after this season if he continues to be among the NFL's elite running backs. According to his contract, if he meets the conditions of certain incentives in any two seasons his salary stands to escalate from 2009 to 2012.

For this season, Peterson's base salary is $285,000. He also received a roster bonus of $1.255 million in August. This is the only season his base will be under a million. Next year, it jumps to $1.925 million before increasing to $2.310 million (2009), $2.695 million (2010) and $3.080 million (2011).

Turn the page

A few months after his arrival as the Vikings coach in 2006, Brad Childress brought up former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens when talking about the Vikings' decision to trade quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

"I went through a big 'me' situation last year with a guy who was all about 'me,'" Childress said at the time in reference to Owens.

Childress had been Philadelphia's offensive coordinator when Owens' stint with the team came to a bitter end.

But as the Vikings get set to face Owens and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Childress sounds as if he has moved on. Childress said Wednesday he talked to Owens briefly before the teams played a preseason game in August, adding, "I think that's all in the past," when asked about what happened near the end in Philadelphia.

"I don't think there's any question he's one of the best receivers in the NFL," Childress added. "All you've got to do is look at his numbers year in and year out and realize he's a force to be reckoned with.

Etc.

• Special teams contributors Vinny Ciurciu (ankle) and Naufahu Tahi (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (groin), safety Dwight Smith (hamstring) and defensive end Erasmus James (shoulder) all were limited. Jackson returned Sunday after missing two games because of a groin strain.

• Cornerback Antoine Winfield said he did not request to be matched up against Owens on Sunday. Winfield did ask to go against the Packers' No. 1 receiver, Donald Driver, in Week 4. "Really, he's not their No. 1 receiver," Winfield said of Owens. "[Tight end Jason] Witten is. He has all the catches and most of the touchdowns. ... If we just go out there and do our assignment, we'll be OK."

Witten leads Dallas with 32 receptions -- five more than Owens. Witten and Owens both have four touchdown catches.

• Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he has heard the comparisons being made between Peterson and some of the great running backs in NFL history.

"I think people were saying [Gale] Sayers and [Eric] Dickerson, kind of a combination there," Phillips said. "That's what he looks like to me. He has that shift of gears like Sayers had. And, of course, he has that tremendous speed that Dickerson had."

Staff Writer Mark Craig contributed to this report.

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com