Hurt, not injury prone

Hurt, not injury prone
Draft status: Adrian Peterson
By John Rohde
The Oklahoman

There is a difference between being injury prone and getting injured. The problem is differentiating between the two and getting people to believe it.

Oklahoma junior running back Adrian Peterson has gotten injured, but he is not injury prone. What matters most is what NFL people think.

"The injuries were a question before this latest issue," an AFC scout told The Sporting News. "It will be a major concern now."

Sorry, not buying it. Sounds like a veiled attempt to throw other teams off the scent.

Adrian Peterson has had three major injuries since he arrived in Norman:

• A "loose" shoulder, an injury that initially occurred in high school and was tightened up with surgery after his freshman season.

• A high ankle sprain that caused him to miss all or part of four games last season.

• A broken left collarbone suffered Oct. 14 against Iowa State that will cause him to miss 4-6 weeks, perhaps more.

The loose shoulder was Adrian Peterson's only recurring injury, and it has mended — as has the ankle.

The collarbone is the least severe of the three injuries and can fully heal if allowed proper time.

Adrian Peterson has averaged 27.3 carries and 150.4 yards in games when he's been healthy; four carries and 14.3 yards in games with a bum ankle.

Adrian Peterson's relentless, physical, all-out running style is what makes him so great. It also exposes him to more violent collisions.

Adrian Peterson likely will be the most poked and prodded player at the NFL combine next February.

Former OU quarterback and 2003 Heisman Trophy winner Jason White estimated 16-20 doctors examined his surgically repaired knees before the 2005 NFL draft. White also endured 3-4 hours worth of MRI exams.

NFL types no doubt will be thorough in their examinations of Peterson. And that's when they'll be convinced this 6-foot-2, 215-pounder with 4.9 percent body fat is simply be too great a talent to ignore.

[More at newsok ]