MANKATO -- With a big nod of thanks to Mother Nature and her rainy afternoon, the Vikings ended practice after spending a little more than an hour indoors without pads on what basically was a walkthrough. Afterward, running back Adrian Peterson talked to reporters for the first time since being taken off the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) list this morning. Peterson, who tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee at Washington on Christmas Eve, worked with the first team, naturally, although there was no contact whatsoever.
Here are the highlights from Peterson's visit with reporters:
On being taken off the PUP: "Oh man, it's just the next step. I feel good that I'm off. I can get back out here with the guys on the field and get back to playing. Get back into the offense and slowly squeeze back in there."
On what he's gone through the past 7 1/2 months: "It's been a true test. They took me off [PUP] today, I just kind of reflect on the day after surgery [on Dec. 30] and the process to get where I am now. It's been hard work. Not only for me, but for [head athletic trainer] Eric Sugarman and his staff and the staff down in Houston. ... Lot of prayers, giving God his time and keeping my faith. That's what's really gotten me to this point. I'm just excited to be back with the guys and finally get rolling."
On head coach Les Frazier warning that this is only `the next step' in the process: "Pretty much what it came to is I've done all I can do while training and working out and doing different drills. It was time to get back in the mix and start doing some football activities. That's the next step. I'm feeling good. It's time to go out and participate in everything. But I'm going to let these guys do their jobs and I'm just going to go with the flow."
On whether it's a big step in going from just being on the field to being game ready: "It is. But I'm excited. I was like a kid in a candy store today when I came out here and they threw me in with the first group. I was smiling. I had to try to calm myself down. I was going a little too fast for a walkthrough in the beginning. For me, this is so satisfying. I had a lot of people doubting me and saying this and saying that. But I kept my faith and kept working hard. Now, I'm back in the mix."
On his so-called `doubters' still doubting him: "It is what it is. My mindset won't change. It doesn't matter what everyone around me thinks. I'll be doing what I've been doing."
On his conversation with Frazier this morning: "It was something I was expecting. We had a conversation previously. I didn't know exactly when, but I kind of knew around what time. After that conversation, I told him I'll just keep doing what I've been on the side to show him I'd be ready."
