Peterson should fake the money and run

One more juke, that's it.

Adrian Peterson needs to shake his pride and any greed. Avoid one more thing that may take him down.

Minnesota's sterling running back should call it a season, no matter how fast he recovers from a torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.

Peterson has been downright ferocious running the ball in his rookie season. His elusive, thundering style has sent archivists running for tapes of Eric Dickerson and O.J. Simpson.

Peterson set the single-game rushing record two weeks ago when he ran past, through and around the San Diego Chargers. It took Peterson 30 carries to total quarterback-type yardage. When he was done, he'd nearly carried the football the length of the field three times over. His 296 yards were a new record by 3 feet, causing a superlative shortage.

A week ago the whole scene changed. Peterson was hit on the inside of his right knee by diving Packers cornerback Al Harris. The only wheels associated with Peterson after were revolving on the cart he rode back to the locker room.

Peterson had rolled up 1,081 yards prior to the hit. Every foot up and foot down put more cash in his pocket. Peterson's contract equates to a bushel of carrots in front of the rabbit. Things is, he was feasting.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, Peterson's incentive-laden contract shakes out like this:

It's maximum value is $40.5 million over five years. Of that, Peterson is guaranteed $17 million. That's how the NFL works. Ownership holds the hammer, able to cut out a player at any time.

When he passed 701 yards rushing, Peterson earned a one-time $2.45 million bonus.

If he exceeds 1,000 yards rushing in two of his first three seasons, he earns an additional $2.5 million in 2010, which would be on top of his base salary of $2.695 million that season.

If he tops 1,300 rushing yards once, he adds another million to his fifth-year salary. If he does it twice, $3 million would be added.

Reaching 2,000 yards or scoring 20 touchdowns (he had 8 before getting hurt midway through the season) would add $1 million apiece to his 2011 salary.

If he hits all those marks, Peterson stands to earn enough money to buy a few houses with an average of 34 useless rooms apiece.

Hence the dilemma. No more yardage this season could cost him. Literally.

Vikings' athletic trainer Eric Sugarman said, "absolutely, without question," when asked if Peterson would be able to play again this season. The Vikings are now saying Peterson could be back Nov. 25.

Orthopedic specialist Dr. Johnny Benjamin heard that date and told the Pioneer-Press, "It's not realistic. Saying it's a Grade 2-plus (tear) is the doctors trying to give coach (Brad) Childress and all the Viking faithful some hope.

"But it's a torn ligament, and a torn ligament is going to take six weeks to heal. And that's for someone like a doctor or news writer, who doesn't go out and make cuts like Adrian Peterson obviously does."

Peterson admitted to being scared when it first happened. "When it's a knee and you're a running back, you are definitely going to worry." He said Sunday night was one that brought little sleep.

No wonder. He had his first flash of every athlete's prime nightmare, removal of ability which often leads to loss of identity.

It probably wasn't a night of sawing wood in the Childress house, either. The Vikings' coach may be the biggest loser if Peterson is done for the season. He's going to be out of a job if Minnesota wins only five games. He may be around for another year if Peterson misses one week and comes back with the same ferocity and helps the Vikings to a reasonable win total.

But the Vikings are woeful. Three wins, 6 losses. A passing game that, well, there is no passing game. Prior to being injured, Peterson was facing eight defenders on the line of scrimmage with their own incentives to smash him into the ground. That won't change should he return.

Cash and longevity are the looming elements now.

How bad does Peterson want to pursue those bonuses? He could not gain another inch this season and still reach every contractual threshold. Or he could rush back, get hurt again, more severely this time, and turn his career synopsis into a story that contains "but he came back to early " in the opening.

Longevity is on the line for Childress, too. He's said, "We're not going to put him out there until he can protect himself." But Peterson is Childress' best shield from the offseason ax.

Because of his violent running style, the likelihood of help from other facets of the offense next season, and the Vikings' current malaise, Peterson should call it year so he has several more.

Taking a step back would be his best move yet.

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