Vikings Like Peterson
The NFL Network has confirmed what VU hipped its premium subscribers to over the weekend -- that Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson was a special guest of the Vikings last week.
The Vikings may be tipping their hand as to who they are going to be looking at on draft day. Adam Schefter of NFL Network echoed the words from a premium story late last week here that running back Adrian Peterson was “snuck into town” Friday shortly after a dinner meeting with 25 draft prospects.
Adrian Peterson remains one of the most intriguing draft prospects because if he makes it past the Browns at No. 3, it would seem unlikely that the Buccaneers (Cadillac Williams), Cardinals (Edgerrin James) or Redskins (Clinton Portis) would take on the additional financial hit to add a second running back at such a high cost.
Adrian Peterson’s stock is on the rise and there is some contention that, if he is still on the board at No. 5 or 6, that the Bills or Packers may try to package a deal to move ahead of the Vikings to get him. While the team remains mum (go figure) on the subject, the speculation is growing that, even in their silence, you can pick up a “tell” in their actions.
WEDNESDAY NOTES
* The NFL has announced that five players will be in New York for the draft. They are Adrian Peterson, quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn, wide receiver Calvin Johnson and DE Gaines Adams. OT Joe Thomas won’t be there because he had a pre-planned fishing trip with his father scheduled.
* On Thursday from noon to 1 p.m., Brad Childress will take part in the Minnesota Public Library’s Favorite Poem Celebrity Reading Program, which is part of National Poetry Month. Childress will read the “The Bridge Builder” by Will Allen Dromgoole and explain the significance of the poem and its influence on his life. The library is located at 300 Nicollet Mall and is open to the public. Earlier in the day, Childress will donate $5,000 worth of Reebok products to the Salvation Army. The donation will be picked up by the Salvation Harbor Light Center and will include shoes, sweatshirts and jackets.
* Koren Robinson continues to serve his sentence stemming from the drunk driving charge from last August’s training camp incident. After serving 30 days in jail, Robinson was released from jail April 7 and is serving the remainder of his sentence in Wisconsin. Robinson is now in the custody of Brown County Jail in Green Bay, but will serve the remainder of his jail term under electronic monitoring. As part of the sentence, K-Rob can rehabilitate his knee and work “odd jobs” at the Bellin Health Care facility. According to local authorities, Robinson is working as an assistant to Dr. Patrick McKenzie, who is the Packers’ team physician.
* Mike Mayock of NFL Network has come out with his ranking of players and, if the draft falls as he has the players projected to go, the Vikings will end up with DE Gaines Adams, which wouldn’t be a cause for tears to be shed by Vikings fans. His top seven are as follows: WR Calvin Johnson, QB JaMarcus Russell, RB Adrian Peterson, S LaRon Landry, OT Joe Thomas and Adams at No. 7.
* The Cedric Griffin story is getting more ink, but, in a similar vein to what was reported here yesterday, it looks like Griffin was more a victim of circumstance than causing trouble. According to unnamed sources at ProFootballTalk.com, Griffin was concluding a meeting with his banker and invited by the manager of Spin night club to sit in the VIP Room. It was only when he had to use the men’s room that he was accosted by a bouncer telling him to hitch up his pants. When he protested the club’s dress code, he was promptly ejected, where he found little in the way of solace from the cops. The PFT story also cites a source claiming that Griffin “promptly called Brad Childress.” We’re hoping prompt doesn’t mean a 2 a.m. call from stone house, but it’s looking more obvious that this was a minor incident and not something to be concerned about.
[More at http://story.scout.com]
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