Adrian Peterson On His Legendary Career Heisman Snub Return To Football

There's no way Matt Rollins should have got it over me, but in my mind, I want it.

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Published 9 days agoDuration: 1:131255 timestamps

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There's no way Matt Rollins should have got it over me, but in my mind, I want it.

You know, that's my, he has it at his place, but that's, that's my Heisman Trophy.

Should Reggie Bush have his?

Without a doubt.

Adrian Peterson, welcome to the Courtside Club.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

No problem.

Thanks for having me.

We met at the Travis Scott Celebrity Softball Game.

You were our first baseman.

That was really fun.

Had a good time.

Seeing you in a different element than I feel most people are used to.

Yeah.

Um, one thing I have to bring up before we even start though, I heard online about your

handshake and I realized I've never, am I, I'm, I'm onto something, right?

There's been multiple people who have said that you have like the firmest handshake that

anyone has ever felt.

Yeah.

And I've yet to shake your hand.

Yeah.

Well, not too bad.

Not too bad.

Took it easy on me.

Yeah.

No, no, no.

Correct.

Don't rush your hand like that.

Did you learn that growing up?

Was that something Southern thing?

Grew up in Texas?

Yeah.

I think, uh, just growing up here in Texas and I grew up with seven uncles in small town

powerhouse in Texas.

Yeah.

You know, and they always were really rough with me.

And when, you know, the kids would be around, they would always tell us, Hey, when you meet

someone, when you meet, when you meet a man, look him in the eye, look him in the eye and

give him a firm handshake.

Yeah.

I always did that.

Like when I met people, I tried to squeeze their hand really hard and just, you know,

um, and it's something that just kind of stuck with me.

You've made a lasting impression on many.

My, the firmest handshake where I literally felt like my hand was going to break was actually

Tiger Woods.

That was, that was something.

And his hands also, by the way, he's actually a smaller guy.

You think of him as a larger than life type of guy, obviously, cause he is the Tiger Woods,

but he's not that tall and his hands weren't that big, but it was like, it's good firm

shape.

You can hold those clubs.

Yeah.

Talk about football a little bit.

Grew up in Texas.

Um, when did you start playing football?

So I started playing, um, before I started playing organized football, it was just throw

up tackle.

Yeah.

Backyard football.

So I've been playing since like five, you know, but I started playing organized football

at the age of seven.

When was that moment that you knew this was it for you?

This was your calling.

This was your passion.

You know, honestly, I always had a feeling that, um, that football was my calling.

Um, I've always, even at a young age, told myself I'm playing in the NFL one day.

I'm playing in the NFL.

So that was something that I had my mind wrapped around at a young age and just going up a

different, against different competition there in Palestine, even though it's a small, small

town.

Um, at the end of the season, um, the, the winningest team would take, um, would gather

some of the other players, you know, like an all-star team and we would go to Texas

Arcana and we would play team from Georgia, you know, from surrounding states.

Yeah.

And we went there two years in a row and won and won both years.

And I feel like that's kind of when I realized that, man, you know what, I'm going against

kids from Georgia.

Kids from Georgia, kids from Alabama, you know, Louisiana, wherever they're from.

And, um, you know, I'm doing the same thing that I was doing against the kids back, back

in Palestine.

Um, so that's when I knew, okay, you know, I think my talent level is a little different

than others.

The South is different for football.

I grew up in the Midwest and I feel like we were definitely, you know, basketball, football

state, a little bit of baseball, but there's a different energy when it comes to Texas

football, Southern football.

Yeah.

Texas.

There's something different in the water, in the player's blood, like runs through

in these States.

Um, was there anybody who inspired you growing up?

Yeah.

Um, LaDain Thomason was a guy that, uh, I love, you know, watching him play, you know,

when he was at TCU and of course making it to, you know, making it to the NFL.

Um,

I know in high school, you know, Cedric Manson, he was a guy who played at the University

of Texas that was from Midland Lee.

And so just watching him and whatnot.

But I would say LT and Ricky Williams, you know, in my, you know, my older years, like

in high school, those were the guys that I watched and it was like, okay, like that's

how you run the ball, especially Ricky Williams, you know, he was so physical, just a different

specimen, you know, when he was out there on the field or whatnot.

But Eric Dickinson was a guy, you know, I had to look his stuff up, you know, but I

always got comparisons to Eric Dickinson because we were both taller backs, both were like

track athletes and ran straight up, you know, so he was a guy that I looked at that was

like, man, okay, you know, this guy is really special.

Give me the percentage of how much natural

athleticism speaks to you.

The speed, quickness, strength that you feel like was just in your DNA and how much you

worked to be who you are.

Yeah.

Football is a lot about athleticism, you know, there's skill there as well, but you need

that.

Yeah.

So I don't want to discredit my hard work because I know that's what separated me, but

I was born with it, you know, like I was gifted.

My mom.

And a lot of people see my dad, my dad, like 6'4", 230 and they see my pops and they be

like, man, okay, we see why he's, you know, he's so big and, you know, has nice size.

But then like, no one really sees my mom's side of the family, which my mom, she was

11 and three in high school.

This was like back in the eighties, you know, really, really fast.

Had uncle that high junk, 71 in high school.

Yeah.

I broke all his records at Pallison High School.

Yeah.

And that, that stayed until I broke it.

So I would say it's definitely just the God given ability.

But the one thing that I always locked in on was there was a sign in our, our, our rate

room that said hard work outdoes talent when talent doesn't work hard, you know?

So for me, I knew I had the talent.

I wanted to make sure no one outworked me.

So I truly believe that is what separated me from, from everybody else.

I didn't have much of any natural athletic ability.

I had to work so hard.

Um, but I feel like to be a great, you need those two to interlock.

And do you think that you could have gone places with track?

Yeah.

Without a doubt.

That was my, that was my, my, like my smile.

It was one, like a one B, like I really, really love track and a lot of people don't know

this.

I've shared it before.

But.

My, going into my junior year, I told myself I was done playing football.

I was just going to focus on track.

Yeah.

And then I talked to my dad one day.

Um, my dad was, was incarcerated.

He got locked up, um, going into the summer of my sixth, seventh grade year.

And, but he was the one like put the ball in my hand, you know, he was a beast too.

He was a Mickey D's all American and basketball played at Ohio State.

Got drafted.

Cool.

Ohio State?

Yeah.

Idaho State.

Yeah.

But he told me, he said, son, I know you can be the best running back in the country,

but you got to go out there and show people.

So that, that right there was what, it's what made me get back into, into football.

But I was a sprinter.

I ran 100, 200.

Um, I got second at State.

I ran a 10-3, 10-3-3.

If I really would have like locked in and actually went to school to run, I think the

sky would have been the limit for me.

Let's move on to your college days.

You, you left Texas, went to Oklahoma.

I want to talk about the state of college athletics right now.

Cause I feel like from the time that you were in college, I was in college, college athletics

has changed a lot, especially with NIL, um, and all these different deals for these kids.

Now, how do you feel about the current state of NIL and college sports?

I really like it.

You know, I wish they had it when I, when I came out.

I quit after my first year.

I was like, I would have stayed.

I was like, I would have stayed and played four years of basketball if we had NIL.

You gotta know, right?

You get paid?

Yeah.

Um, but I love it because I, I understand the business side of it.

So I know how much the university, how much, how much they're making for these athletes,

these student athletes.

Yeah.

So it's like, why not give them a piece of the pie?

You know?

So I love it.

Um, I was talking to my dad about it and the only thing I really haven't, but it's the

trend.

It's like people can get in that quarter and they move to different.

Yeah.

That's so different.

That's the thing that I just like, ah, you know, it's kind of iffy, but.

Cause for you it was like, you had to sit out of here, right?

Yeah.

That's yeah.

And now it is because I think one thing about college sports, the thing that makes it so

great.

And sometimes even better than pro is the rivalries are there.

And a lot of times it is because of kids staying and football isn't as much of a one and done.

As basketball is.

I feel like that's why men's basketball on the, in the college side, it's harder to follow

along unless we get somebody like a Zion or this big star, you know, a Bronnie James or

something.

Um, but if you have kids being able to just, you know, jump ship, go to another, you know,

we had that at Ohio state with our quarterback.

Yeah.

Um, it's kind of like, okay, well here we are.

Yeah.

You know, I don't like it, but then again, it's like, I've seen situations where kids

don't play basketball.

And again, it's like, I've seen situations where, and I've heard about situations where,

um, certain players didn't get that opportunity and they felt they deserve.

Yeah.

So having that ability to be like, okay, I'm gonna go somewhere else where, you know, they're

saying, saying a little sense of the look different.

I'm going to have, I'm having this opportunity to get out there and compete for, for starting

job.

You never know that my birth, you know, another Eli Manning or you never know what type of

player it could birth.

So I like it from that sense.

I think ultimately, um, the colleges they'll do what they need to do to keep their, their

players there.

And, you know, typically when you got these, you know, these players that's like the top

running backs and quarterbacks in the country, you know, they should be pretty set with where

they end up going.

Um, you know, so I don't think it, uh, it'll be too bad.

Can we talk about the Dion effect?

Yeah.

And I've, I've heard you say in other interviews that he was one of your favorite players and

he's obviously had super high praise for you as well.

Um, we, my boyfriend actually did go to Colorado.

We went to two of those games this past season, insane little Wayne is there, you know, LeBron's

it's all these different celebrities, um, it's completely packed house.

There's so much hype over, you know, a team who isn't there yet, how do you see Colorado

panning out?

And what Dion can kind of do to.

Yeah, I, um, I think the sky's the limit, you know, coach prime and he's, he's just,

he's different.

You know, he's one of a kind type player, you know, he was, he was the best to ever

do it.

You know, he was my, my all time favorite player growing up.

Do you think the goat?

Yeah.

Without a doubt, hands down.

Some of the things that he did, he played offense, defense, special teams and he did,

he did everything and he did it at a high level.

He was the best at it.

Yeah.

It's not, it's not surprising to me that he's able to, you know, they say that with

the prime effect, it's not surprising because everyone loves them, you know, everyone has

respect with respect for him and it wasn't just how he played, it was his personality

as well.

Yeah.

You know, he wasn't, I never thought he was cocky, but he always showed that confidence,

his confidence level was always here.

Yeah.

You know, so when you bring that into a college atmosphere and you got these kids that, you

know, they grow up watching Deion, everyone praises Deion and then not only that, they're

seeing what he's able to do, what he did in Jackson state and now what he's doing in Colorado,

you know, it's, it's an extra incentive, you know, it's a perk to, to, to go to a university

where you know, you're going to be able to compete on a high level.

Right.

You're going to get some of the top recruits and you're going to be coached well.

Yeah.

You know, you might have a couple NFL players, NFL coaches on the roster, you know, that's

coaching that team because of the connections that Deion has.

True.

And so I think the sky's the limit.

I feel like here in the next year, if not even sooner.

That was going to be my next question.

When are they going to be in that contender spot?

How many years is it going to take?

You know, based on what I've seen and I would say.

Once they, when they start getting, I think they're in the process of doing this.

Once they get that meet up, you know, up in the front.

Pause.

Yeah.

I know.

You know, all of us aligned.

Yeah.

The defense interior, those guys.

Once they get some bigger guys, some top guys in that, that spot, they got, they have the

skilled players offensively and defensively based on what I've seen.

But when you going up against the, you know, the SEC.

You got teams like LSU, Alabama, Georgia, you know, like you need some guys that's going

to be able to.

The one thing I know without an offensive line and without offensive line, there was

nothing that I could do.

You know, I was able to do a little bit, but I need an offensive line for sure.

And I know on the defense side, they need it.

You need a defensive line, you know?

Right.

So, you know, my play since I was seven years old and it's always been there.

Been that.

Offensive line and defensive line.

You need to have those guys, you know, in the right position and then you can, then

you'll be able to get something done.

Yeah.

We'll have to see.

It's definitely a cultural shift and it's really fun to watch.

I'm rooting for him as well because it seems like he has a different sort of love for his

players too.

I think in college sports, and I kind of felt this with my experience as well, sometimes

as an athlete, you feel expendable in a way and coaches just want you to make sure they

can win at the end of the day.

Whatever else you got going on, they don't really care that much.

Make sure you perform on the field, the court, whatever.

It doesn't seem like Deion feels that way about his kids.

Like he actually wants to shape them into real men.

Yeah.

To be successful in, you know, in every space.

And that's what separates him because he understands, he has that chemistry.

He's, you know, he got boys, he played in the league, you know, he went to college and,

you know, so automatically you get that.

You know, you get, you get respected even more, but you can tell how he coached and

how he talks to these kids, the people that he brings in to speak life into these kids.

Yeah.

That he really cares about them.

You know, of course, any coach you want to win, you know, that's the objective.

I want to win.

But you can, you can tell that these kids love him and they'll do anything for him.

Heisman has been brought up quite a bit because Reggie Bush still, you know, he's still a

player, but he still isn't getting it back.

Yeah.

And there's been a lot of players and, and media who have been outspoken about that and

kind of stood behind him because obviously the landscape of college athletics now.

How do you feel about that?

And also I know you were second in voting, right?

2004?

Yeah.

Do you kind of feel a certain way about that?

Yeah, I do.

I do.

I see the look on your face.

I do.

Yeah.

You know?

There was a time where a freshman couldn't really win it, you know?

Yeah.

And it just really, it really sucked to, because I knew the night before that I wasn't winning

it.

Okay.

I had two people I can speak to.

Just because of politics?

I knew that, but then I had someone come up and tell me that I already, he was a Heisman

trophy winner.

He was one of the guys, he was like, man, they're just not ready to give it to a freshman.

So I was like, God, man.

I'm doing all these activities.

So politics, essentially.

Yeah.

Because there's no way Matt Ronald should have got it over me.

Yeah.

You know, coming in, the type of year that I had, as a true freshman, I don't, you know,

I don't see how he, you know, he got it.

I, in my mind, I knew it was politics and I'm sure they were like, well, you know, he

has a couple more years.

He'll probably get one, you know?

And so that took the opportunity away from me.

But in my mind, I won it.

You know, that's my, he has it at his place, but that's my Heisman trophy.

That's yours.

Yeah.

Should Reggie Bush have his?

Without a doubt.

Yeah.

He deserves it, man.

You think about the type of season he had the entire time he was there, but that Heisman

year, there was nobody out there in the field that was better than Reggie, you know, just

electrifying everything that he was able to do and, you know, help lead his team to championships.

Yeah.

He definitely deserves that.

He deserves his Heisman back.

They have to at some point, right?

I don't think so.

I mean, there's so much pushback against it.

At this point, it just seems insane.

Yeah.

For him not.

Do you know what I mean?

I don't know.

Yeah.

I don't know.

You're more in the know than I am in that football space, which is me being as a fan

and seeing how NIL is now, seeing how college athletics is, seeing how much these certain

awards mean to players in NFL and in college.

Like that means that there's a lot more to it.

Yeah.

I don't know if I was grilling him a little bit there, but that means that's-

Yeah.

Very meaningful.

Very much so.

That's something that you still, you know, we still talk about.

Yeah.

Well into your 30s now, so-

Yeah.

I think at some point he'll get it back.

Yeah.

I think pride has a lot to do with it right now, you know, because you know you're wrong.

You see how the NIL is and, you know-

Yeah.

Just take the L, come on.

Yeah, let's take the L. Give this man his trophy.

Give him his trophy back, man.

Yeah.

I have nothing but respect for Reggie and just his ability and, you know,

I don't care if he was, I don't care what was happening, you know?

Like, the NIL is here now.

And it was the NIL before the NIL, too.

You know what I'm saying?

Like, just to be real.

But that doesn't affect what the young man did on the field.

You know what I'm saying?

So, I feel like at some point they'll bite the bullet and, you know,

ship it back to him.

I hope so.

I want to talk more about your NFL career and beyond in the second half.

But here on Courtside Club, we like to take a halftime break.

And I have a little game of starting fives for you.

So, we have starting fives.

We're going to throw in some football things in there.

So, I want to hear your starting five NFL running backs of all time.

Starting five.

Yep.

You're allowed to be on these lists.

Okay.

I'll say my starting five.

Okay.

I'll put myself.

Okay.

Barry Sanders.

Herschel Walker.

I mean, not Herschel Walker, but Payton.

Walter Payton.

Okay.

Ooh-wee.

I got to go with Jim Brown.

And I'm missing one.

This one took me a long time.

Now, I've always said Bo Jackson because he was just freakish, man.

You know?

419.

Like, he did it all.

This is also your list.

This doesn't have to be.

Yeah.

This is your starting five.

So, I'm going Bo Jackson and then LT right there.

LeVan Thompson.

Okay.

So, they're.

So, that's five.

That's six.

Yeah.

He's coming out.

Either one of them come off the bench.

Okay.

Got it.

Okay.

So, you're starting five current NFL players.

This can be any position.

Any position?

Any position.

Okay.

Right now, Patrick Mahomes, Trent Williams, Kristen McCaffrey.

Okay.

Would you think he would ever make your starting five all-time?

I think he has the potential to.

Potential.

Okay.

Yeah.

A.J. Green.

No.

A.J. Brown.

Okay.

And, I need to be a player.

All-time?

Oh, you're talking about current?

Current.

Okay.

What I'm thinking.

He just retired Aaron Donald.

He did.

Yeah.

I wanted to put him on there.

It's close.

Yeah.

Current.

We need a current player.

Let's see who else.

Defensively.

Because I need to be a defensive guy.

I'd probably say Ramsey.

I'll go DB.

Okay.

Jalen Ramsey?

Yeah.

Not bad.

Let's flip to basketball now.

Okay.

That's cool with you.

Starting five NBA players of all time.

Again, this is your list.

Yeah.

Michael Jordan.

Okay.

That's your go, I'm assuming?

Yeah.

There's still the debate.

So, I'll have to add it.

Yeah.

Basketball player?

Yeah, Jordan.

Okay.

You know, best athlete ever to play?

LeBron James.

Yeah.

That's my opinion.

His size and six feet.

Do you think best athlete of all sports?

LeBron James?

Best athlete of all time?

No.

Or just in the sport of basketball?

No.

In the sport of basketball.

Sport of basketball.

Okay.

Yeah.

Just clarifying.

All right.

Cool.

Yeah.

So, yeah.

So, Michael Jordan.

We got LeBron James.

We got Kobe Bryant.

Cool.

We got Shaq.

Perfect.

And then, ooh, so many great players out there.

I'm going to go with Steph.

They're going to put Steph on there?

Yeah.

Cool.

Yeah.

Cool.

Yeah.

That's a sick starting back.

Like, my favorite basketball player of all time is Reggie Miller.

Is it?

Yeah.

And so, I got to put Steph on there.

You got to put a shooter on there.

Yeah.

For sure.

I got to put, since Steph is the GOAT now, I got to.

Oh, shooting.

Yeah.

Cool.

Moving on to your NFL career.

What was your welcome to the NFL moment?

Did you have one?

You know, outside of having the game.

Having to carry pads and stuff at training camp.

I would say.

Was that your rookie season?

Yeah.

I would say against Chicago.

We was playing my rookie year.

We were playing at Sosa Field.

And I'll never forget walking up to the lineup, the play call, and seeing Bridge and Erlacher.

And I'm just like, God.

Like, you know what I'm saying?

These guys were huge.

6'4", 250 pounds.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yeah.

Well, the massage was PD and 6'4", 250 pounds, like, both of them.

Yeah.

And it was.

I think it was an inside zone play that was called.

And the hole opened.

And just like that.

Bam.

It was just.

They just stuffed.

They stuffed me, you know.

And it was just like, They OK.

You know, I remember I think it was Erlacher who said something.

like, Come on, Marco.

You Just.

we're gonna be here all day you know something real smooth yeah like kind of cocky but and

I remember the next play that I got it was an outside zone play and I ran for maybe like 10

to 15 yards and Erlacher was on the tackle and I ended up falling forward and I just remember

getting up and looking at him and bridge as they're walking back to the hole and I could

just see it in their eyes that they were like okay you know he's legit yeah okay you know so

it was that moment and that's cool I think I went on for like 225 yards and uh had the I was doing

a kickoff return at that time and I had the uh game I set up I broke one for like 60 yards and

set up the game

winning field goal oh cool you know so yeah it was pretty it was pretty cool so you were right

you were ready for it right away yeah at least mentality what I'm hearing is your mentality was

there yeah in that sometimes I feel like a learning curve for younger player why vets even if they

don't have the same you know physicality that they did when they were younger their mindset is that

they're ready for those situations to happen you were ready that first season yeah I was ready I

remember being at the

rookie premier and um and doing interviews and stuff and I can't I can't remember the reporter

but this person might remember this but he was sitting down he was sitting down he was asking

me questions so how do you feel like you're gonna do in the NFL you know once you get drafted you

know it's gonna be the things yeah what do you think the biggest difference is gonna be or you

know whatever whatever and I just had confidence I wasn't being cocky I was just like you know I

felt like I'll be able to make a smooth transition you know you think about the speed of the game like

I was a 10 and I was a 10 and I was a 10 and I was a 10 and I was a 10 and I was a 10 and I was a 10

and 26 in 100 you know four three like so I had speed you know um and it wasn't too many guys that

had like elite speed like that that was in the NFL so I'm just like okay speed wise I got it

um so you know the physical aspect of the game you know I feel like I got it too I see guys that are

you know way smaller than me I was like 217 218 at the time so I knew physically that I would be I

I remember, you know, he was just like,

well, you know, it's just going to be a little different.

You know, and I was like, I'm sure it is, but...

I got this. I got this.

Yeah. So it was always just that confidence

and the confidence in knowing that, you know,

I was gifted and, you know, I was blessed

and my work ethic is what allowed me

to have that confidence and back it up.

So 14 seasons? 14, yeah.

Which is insane for an NFL career.

What do you think was that key thing

that led to your longevity in the league

and really not having much of a drop off anywhere in that time

besides maybe your injury?

But again, injuries come with the game.

Yeah.

I, you know, I'm very spiritual,

and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

You know, so that's a mind frame thing,

and it's kind of cliché to some people

because you can just simply say,

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

But if you really, you know, dive into that

for what it is and stand on it,

then you'll be able to see that you're really able

to do some incredible things

that will make people on the outside question this

or be like, wow, I wonder how she did this

or how he did that, how he was able to overcome this.

So I would say it was based on me having the understanding

that, you know, I was able to overcome this.

So I would say it was based on me having the understanding that, you know,

I was able to overcome this.

Yeah, I'm putting in the physical work,

but I have someone who's over me and watching me

that's allowing me to, you know, have this mentality,

to have this drive and have the confidence in knowing that,

hey, if I'm speaking this and I'm believing this,

then it's going to come to pass, you know.

So that was the main thing, you know,

just being blessed with that and having the longevity

and just the mindset of and the passion, you know.

That love for the game, you know,

it's the ultimate driving force, you know,

just having that love, going out there and just playing ball.

So are you finished yet?

No, not in my heart.

You know, I haven't officially retired or anything like that.

I still have passion and love for the game.

So God's willing, I get an opportunity,

get an opportunity to get out there this year.

The one thing I have told myself, you know, is, you know,

I have told myself is if nothing happened this year,

you know, I'll go ahead and hang it up and move on.

But I never wanted to be that guy that's like 40,

you know, I'm 39 now, just 40, 42, feeling like,

hey, you know what, I still got some left in the tank,

you know, and I didn't put my best foot forward

or leave the door open for the opportunity.

So we'll see.

That's a hard decision to make, though,

for a professional.

For a professional athlete,

deciding when that moment is to hang it up.

Because a lot of people, an injury decides it,

just not being good enough, not being fit enough.

But feeling in your heart that you still have some left in you,

it's hard to just be like, yeah, I'll retire, you know?

Yeah.

Are you still training?

Well, not as much.

So my last injury that I had with Seattle,

I had to give myself time.

So I didn't work out for, like, a year.

I had a good year just to let my body rejuvenate and heal.

And what injury was this?

I had a pinched nerve, a pinched nerve,

and to the point where if I stepped out too far

in front of me, it would shut down.

Like, I literally couldn't run for a good period of time.

And they suggested surgery, and I opt out of it,

out of the surgery, and just wanted to heal.

Naturally.

Yeah.

And not get cut on again.

Yeah.

So I'm back to 100% now, feeling good, can run.

You are.

Do everything I need to do.

OK.

You know, so.

I saw an article.

There was a rumor that some, it's called the UFL now, right?

Yeah.

That some of those teams were actually eyeing you.

Have you heard about that?

Have you talked to anybody in that league?

I haven't talked to anyone.

OK.

But.

I've had one or two people reach out

that I know that's affiliated.

It was like, hey, how are you feeling?

Are you working out?

You know, what are your thoughts?

Yeah.

And it didn't really go past that.

But, you know, I know that would be an option

if I wanted to do it.

So if it weren't NFL, you would consider?

If it wasn't the NFL, would I consider?

Probably not, to be honest with you.

No?

OK.

I'll probably get out there and run track or something.

I'm going to do something active to get my.

Something active.

To continue to challenge myself.

You know, just to do it because I know I still have a lot of talent.

Of course.

And love.

Yeah.

We'll have to see.

Keep us posted.

I'll be checking in.

If there is any announcement or something,

you better call Quartz Eye Club.

Let us know.

I'll let you know.

Deal?

I'll keep you in the loop.

OK, cool.

Yeah.

I wanted to touch on it really quick.

A bigger injury that you did have in 2012, your ACL,

that a lot of people, including I feel like your training staff

coaches, didn't think that you would come back from that

so quickly.

In about eight months, you came back.

Eight months, yeah.

And then after that, had one of the best seasons of your career.

Yeah.

How did you come back from that injury so quickly?

Ah.

When that injury happened?

Yeah.

Towards the end of the season.

It was Christmas Eve, matter of fact.

I remember being in the locker room after it happened.

And the trainers that was there, I said, you know what?

It is what it is.

And at that moment, I told myself that I was going to be back.

And I was going to be back and come back better than I was before.

Because ACL.

Was it LCL as well?

So in that moment, in my mind, it was like, this is it.

This is what it is.

So now, the next step is, OK, God's willing, I don't have any

type of swelling that delays my surgery.

But that's the next step.

Getting the surgery done, making sure I go to the best doctor,

getting the surgery done, and then start this journey on

coming back.

Because I knew it was going to be tough.

I think that right there was the key.

You know, like having faith and understanding that, like I said

earlier, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And that's the mindset that I applied to coming back from this ACL.

Because people were saying, hey, oh, he's done for, he's this, he's that.

You know, everyone had an opinion.

But I knew who has the final say so.

I know who had allowed me to get to that point.

And so that's the mindset that I had.

Yeah.

And I went into the recovery process, you know, with that understanding.

Like, OK, they're saying, man is saying one thing, but I know that I can do

above and beyond.

So after the surgery was done, I remember waking up, I think it was, was it

New Year's now?

Because I remember I had the Blue Bell ice cream.

And I asked Dr. Andrews, I said, listen.

When can I start moving, you know, my leg?

And so I can get my my quad and hamstrings and stuff firing.

He was like, well, Adrian, you know, you're literally just out of surgery.

So I would say don't try anything for the next, you know, we can have two weeks trying to lift it or anything.

I'm like, so will I damage anything?

Or because I know you're going to be in a brace.

Everything should be good structurally that ACL is tight.

But, you know, I don't think you're going to be able to do that right now.

Yeah.

And right when he said that, I started lifting my leg up more like this.

You're like, OK, cool.

As long as I know I'm not going to hurt it.

Yeah.

He was like, yeah.

So it was like little things like that that I did to just get my muscles firing.

And I wanted to be ahead of the curve and every mark that they had set.

Oh, this is usually when this person is able to walk.

This is usually when they're able to put pressure on it.

And I was just like, I believe something totally different.

Yeah.

It seems like your mindset carries pretty much everything throughout your career from even being a kid.

It was like you've had this mindset and it also seems that it's kept you grounded into who you are as a person.

So has there ever been things like media coaches,

anything that have tried to come at you and challenge you that you felt like you've had to overcome?

Because that is one thing in the spotlight in any field, but especially in athletics.

Media, everyone's coming for your throat at all time.

How you're playing on the field, what you're doing off the field, your injury.

Are you as quick as you used to be?

Has that been a struggle or do you feel like because of your mindset, because of your faith, you've been able to, you know, power through?

I've been able to power through, you know, but I know it's because of my faith, right?

There's only been one time that I felt disrespected and felt like a coach was challenging me.

And I'm not going to lie.

I'm not going to lie.

And this was right before I left Minnesota.

I tore my meniscus.

I tore 90% of my meniscus at a home game the first year we played in the new stadium in Minnesota.

And they pretty much was like, well, the season is over, you know, because I think it was like week three or four.

And I was like, no, just, you know, just put me on just the injured reserve.

And I feel like I can come back if we have a chance, you know, make it to the playoffs.

So long story short, you know, the odds again, I overcame the odds and I was able to come back and we were playing, I think we played the Colts.

That's what we played.

And we needed to win out.

Like we had like point some percent chance, but any chance, that's the mentality I have.

You know what, I'm right with it.

And we ended up losing that game.

I came back out there and, you know, and I played decent.

Didn't really play too well.

You know, it had been a while.

And then that pretty much eliminated us.

From the, you know, the playoff intentions.

And the next week, coach wanted me to play again.

I was like, coach, I just came back from tearing.

I just came back.

It's my first game.

We have no chance to make the playoffs.

Why would I get out there and risk hurting myself?

And it was, was that 16?

Yeah, 15, 15, 16.

And my contract was up too, you know.

So I could have easily been like, you know, I'm going to shut it down.

And just, you know, whatever, recover.

That's not my mentality.

Yeah.

And then, and he challenged me.

He was like, well, I feel like if you was able to play last week, then you're able to come, come out and play now.

And I was like, I would do that if we really had a chance to make it to the playoffs.

But we don't.

And I'm not going to go out here and, you know, risk hurting myself for a pointless game.

Right.

And he was like, well, I just rather you had not played.

Right.

I played, you know, last game and this and another.

And it just, that's the first time a coach has really just rubbed me wrong with challenging me when it comes to what I've been doing since I was seven.

Playing, you know, the game that I love.

Well, that's the thing with NBA and NFL contracts as well.

And we've had this discussion on the show.

The kind of manipulation that some coaches will use on players, whether they have an injury clause,

whether they don't, because certain money is not guaranteed for NFL players.

But in my mind, it's never made sense to me because it is such so much more of a violent sport than the NBA.

And every NBA contract is guaranteed.

So you, you get that money regardless.

You know what I mean?

And so that has to also probably mess with your mind a bit when you're on the field, knowing, like, if I get injured and especially players who aren't superstars.

Mm hmm.

They could just be gone.

That's it.

Yeah.

And that's the end of their career.

Yeah.

That's their last chance.

Yeah.

You know?

Mm hmm.

And that's what rubbed me so wrong because here I am, the face of the franchise.

Right.

You know, I don't scratch back when your staff and your professionals have told you that, you know what, he's not going to be able to make it back in time.

And he's, y'all should just sit him.

I scratch back because that's the love I have for the game.

Yeah.

And you're going to disrespect me like that?

Like, I was, I was through with him after that.

I was like, man.

All right, man.

Whatever.

So that was the one that stood out to you.

Yeah.

That one right there.

I've never felt that.

And that was your last season there.

Last season there.

Yeah.

Crazy.

Well, we'll have to see where your next season is.

I'm just going to put it out there.

I'm sure the fans would be super excited to see.

Beyond Football, you've done a couple of things.

You've done Dancing with the Stars, an exhibition, boxing match.

Do you have anything else fun planned in those kind of worlds?

Any...

Reality TV?

You know what?

I had something going before.

Like, literally today, I had to cancel it.

I put my name in the hat because it was like, hey, would you be interested in doing this show?

And I'm just like, man, I've watched it a couple of times.

Like...

Wait, can you give us any indication?

Yeah.

It's okay.

Because I told her to put my name out of the hat now because this, our schedule is going to be crazy.

And I wouldn't be able to do it.

But it's the...

Like, the little special forces.

I was going to say you would be really good on that show.

Yeah.

I was watching that.

I'm like, man, I'm about to be locked in.

I got to be locked in, you know, because I watched a couple episodes.

I'm like, shoo, okay.

Yeah, there's going to be some, you know, some challenging things.

But I know I can do it.

But it's a big commitment.

And your mindset is to compete in literally anything that you do.

Yeah.

Even if fear is involved, you know.

Just like, I've never done that before.

But, you know.

So, guys, well, maybe here in the future, that'll be something that I can be a part of.

Maybe when you officially retire, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

The show's going to be around.

Yeah, I think it'll be around.

But we got too much going on with our boys.

We got baseball.

We got track, 707.

And me and my wife, our baby girl, Bella, she's seven months.

Oh, wow.

Yeah.

So, it's a big commitment.

So, I'm just like, oh, let me just wait a little bit.

Yeah.

And see what happens.

So, you know.

Hold it down for the fam a bit.

Yeah.

But who knows?

There's other opportunities that could possibly, you know, pop up that, you know, if there's

something interesting enough, you know, I'll let you know.

Cool.

We'll definitely have to see.

On Chordside Club, we also like to do some buzzer beater questions.

Okay.

Cool.

So, name your ideal food and drink combo while sitting Chordside.

Okay.

Food and drink.

I would say like steak and chicken nachos.

Oh, okay.

So.

Nachos.

Steak and chicken on the nachos.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

That sounds pretty good with jalapenos, you know, maybe some pico, sour cream for sure.

All right.

And then drink would probably be like water or something or alcoholic beverage.

Okay.

Of course.

But I'll probably have both.

Maybe water and then maybe a gin and tonic.

Smart.

Just keep you grounded with the water.

Yeah.

Who was one person dead or alive that you would love to sit Chordside with?

Michael Jackson.

Before Michael Jackson, Yahshua.

Yahweh.

Okay.

I was going to say.

Yeah.

That would be awesome, right?

Yeah.

Well, yeah.

You would have, well, it'd be actually kind of funny watching basketball, but like you

would have so many questions to ask, I'm assuming.

Yeah.

Right?

Tons.

What would be the first one?

Can I get a pass?

A pass into heaven?

Yeah.

Right.

Come on.

Like, let me go up there with you.

Push my ticket right now, if you don't mind.

Can you just let me know if I'm going to be joining you in our next life or do I still

have some work to do?

Where am I at?

Where's my scorecard?

And what is one event in history?

It could be a sporting event.

Or other that you would have loved to been courtside for.

You get that front row seat.

Mm-hmm.

Event.

We've had some people say, like, landing on the moon.

Did they land on the moon?

No.

We've had other people say, you know, game six.

Yeah.

They didn't land on the moon, though.

No?

No.

I would say.

Where's the video?

Where's the livestream?

There's so many things about that, you know.

Foot print, wrong, like everything.

You could also ask God that.

I know.

I seen an interview with a guy, and NASA was like, we destroyed that technology, you know,

years ago.

What?

So you got to the moon, then you destroyed that technology to get back up there?

Make that make sense.

Like, it's literally on, it's captured.

Is this your top conspiracy that you think about?

I would say one of them.

So one event in history.

There's so many great events, man.

I would say probably Michael Jackson halftime show.

What year was it?

The one where they did the We Are the World.

When he performed that song, that would have been pretty awesome.

What year was that?

I think it was in San Fran.

It was the outdoor stadium, for sure.

Yeah.

But just one of his concerts, live, not courtside but fieldside, that would be pretty, pretty

awesome.

Have you seen, this is totally random, I don't even know if this will stay in, the clip of

him where he's singing, and then he fires his, like, somebody while he's singing, he's

performing.

Have you seen that clip?

No.

It's probably the funniest Michael Jackson clip I've ever seen.

he says job gone he's singing it because he's trying to do the what's it called it's not the

hook it's like the the breakdown okay and he was playing the wrong music and he literally

five it's i will try to find it and show you it's you'll it seems like you're a huge michael

jackson fan yeah um maybe the funnest video i've ever seen of him check that out it's hilarious

it's really funny um adrian thank you so much for sitting down with us on courtside here today

let everybody know where they can find you what to look out for um and also just what advice you

have for young athletes coming up right now yeah you know uh i'm on instagram at adrian peterson

um you can also check out um our foundation the ana peterson family foundation we'll be

doing some stuff here coming up soon maybe some camps as well um

you

but you know my advice for you know college students that's looking to or high school

that's looking to you know make it in your profession whether it's football life in general

whatever whatever feel it is that you you desire um the number one ingredient for me was having

faith and i believe faith without work is void you know um making your the things in your visions

known you know

write them out you know um write them out put them on your mirror where it's something it's

something that you see every day and you're constantly reminded of it you know you always

have it here but there's nothing like seeing the goals that you want to accomplish right in front

of you so i would suggest doing that understanding that as individuals we were created to be able to

accomplish anything we put our mind to

no matter who believes in us your mom your dad your cousin uncle teacher whatever

these people might not believe in you but if you believe in yourself and you understand that you

can do all things through christ who strengthens you and you continue to put one foot in front of

the other and whatever adversity you that comes your way understand that we fall down you just

got to get up and keep pushing and you get out what you put in i know that firsthand there was years in the nfl

where i knew my off season my off season wasn't as hard as the 2012 off season

i got out what i put in it might have been 1300 yards but it wasn't 2000.

so just knowing anything you do in life and you know in general you get out what you put in keep

god first believe believe in yourself i don't care who doubts you believe in yourself believe in

yourself and you you will accomplish your goals that's awesome peace

thank you appreciate it

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