Childress not wild about Peterson at 230 pounds

Brad Childress said he doesn't mind if Adrian Peterson gains weight, but the Vikings coach said it's probably unrealistic to think the Pro Bowl running back will reach his stated goal of 230 pounds.

"Well, you know what, 230 is awful big," Childress said Wednesday. "They are not required to weigh in right now, but I can tell you that he doesn't look any different, maybe even a little bit thinner right now."

Listed last season at 6-1 and 217 pounds, Peterson said he hopes to gain 7 to 12 pounds with a goal of beginning next season weighing between 225 and 230 pounds. He hopes the extra weight will enable him to better withstand the punishment he takes.

"I'd encourage him to play at whatever weight he can and have great stamina and be able to finish and be able to still have the successes he's had," Childress said on the third day of the team's offseason program.

Childress made it clear he doesn't think 230 pounds would be a good idea for Peterson.

"You just want guys to be efficient I think with what they have," he said. "The 230, the 12 pounds extra, I don't know where that came from. Did it come out of Adrian's mouth? Well, I'm thinking he's probably not going to get to 230, nor does he want to be at 230. And I would have no trouble telling him that or you."

Childress said adding some bulk could have benefits -- as long as it is good weight and doesn't affect Peterson's explosiveness and speed.

"You've got to still be able to generate and be elusive at the running back position," he said. "I think naturally he'll add good weight as he goes through his career, but I think just adding weight to say, 'I'm going to get 10 pounds heavier' probably doesn't have a lot of merit to it."

The Vikings played host to a group of prospects for a two-day visit starting Wednesday. Teams are allowed to have 30 players during predraft visits. Those scheduled to visit included wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland), Percy Harvin (Florida) and Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina); quarterback Josh Freeman (Kansas State); tackle Eben Britton (Arizona); and defensive backs D.J. Moore (Vanderbilt) and Alphonso Smith (Wake Forest).

Childress said the visits enable teams to get more information and a better feel for players they might draft.

"Any time you can learn more things, it's not different than getting out a Kelley Blue Book or looking up and seeing, 'What is this product that I'm about to buy?' " Childress said. "The more you can know about it, the better off you are."

• Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kevin Williams said he remains confident he will win his court case against the NFL and thus be allowed to play in the season opener. Kevin and Pat Williams have a June 15 trial date in their case involving the use of a banned diuretic that resulted in four-game suspensions. The players received an injunction that allowed them to finish last season. If upheld, the suspensions would take effect at the start of next season. "They set the [trial] date and whatever comes out of that, comes out of that," Kevin Williams said. "But our mind frame is, we'll be ready when the season kicks off."

• The Sporting News reported on its website that Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis, who is projected as a first-round pick, will visit the Vikings.