Peterson shows bursts of skill

Peterson shows bursts of skill


RIVER FALLS, Wis. - Adrian Peterson didn't pile up any official stats, and there wasn't a log of his minutes of live action on the practice fields at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

But his mere participation Saturday was noteworthy for the Vikings.

"It's nice to see him out there," Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "Obviously, you could see his speed. He still has a long way to go as far as catching up mentally, but he's doing a nice job."

Although the practice lasted just over an hour, Adrian Peterson teased Viking fans on a couple of plays.

In one drill on a secondary field, Adrian Peterson caught a short pass and sprinted across the field for what would have been a meaty gain. Then, in the stadium, he waited behind his blocks and burst up the left sideline for at least 12 yards.

"Adrian doesn't do anything unless those offensive linemen are doing what they're supposed to do," Vikings coach Childress said.

After missing Friday's practice against the Chiefs because of a hip pointer, Adrian Peterson was happy to just return to the fold.

"I felt pretty good," he said. "Getting the reps, and just getting in the groove. Each rep counts. So it felt good to be out there and get some work in."

Despite his minor injury, Childress said he liked Adrian Peterson competing and practicing Saturday.

"It's good for him to fight through some of that muscle soreness that he has," Childress said. "He's going to wake up on Monday morning in most instances

and have some of that bruising going on."

Still, Bevell said Adrian Peterson has a ways to go, which is why running backs coach Eric Bieniemy still owns Adrian Peterson's free time.

"Eric Bieniemy is working with him just about every minute that he's free," Bevell said.

Getting heated: It was a chilly, rainy night in River Falls. But it was plenty warm on the football field, and Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards always seemed to be in the mix.

Edwards got into a minor skirmish early in practice, and he was involved in a mix-up to end it. He said he was breaking up the final fight and that he had issues with Chiefs offensive tackles Kyle Turley and Damion McIntosh.

"It started flaring up," Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. "Why do it? It's not worth it."

Edwards said there could have been a rookie scrimmage, but both teams were short-handed at key positions: the Chiefs' defensive linemen, the Vikings' wide receivers.

Childress, like Edwards, dismissed the way the practice ended and insisted that was the final scripted play.

"You had some pushing and shoving out there. That's football," Childress said. "That's the way it goes. That was the last play, so it had to end somewhere.

"We weren't having any highlights on SportsCenter," Childress quipped later.

Edwards acknowledged that the wet fields concerned the coaches.

"The good thing is, no one got injured," Edwards said.

In his post-practice news conference, Edwards said five players were ejected, and he complimented the Vikings.

"They're a physical football team," he said.

Edwards wants to keep working out with the Vikings. He especially likes the hassle of his team having to travel to Mankato first to test their toughness and adaptability.

"I like putting them in that situation," Edwards said. "I like inconvenience."

Briefly: Bevell on quarterbacks Brooks Bollinger and Tarvaris Jackson: "Just from what we saw, there's still things they can improve on. But I think they're improving steadily, making those slow steps. I like what I see so far."

# The hit of the night belonged to Vikings fullback Jeff Dugan, who blocked Nick Reid so hard, the Chiefs linebacker's helmet popped off.

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