Adrian’s Field Goals

Every player has his own way of motivating himself for the upcoming season. For Adrian Peterson, it starts with a piece of paper. In his young professional career the superstar running back for Minnesota has already surpassed milestones that most backs never come close to, but for Adrian it’s all a matter of course. A course he sets at the beginning of every season by putting his very specific goals down on paper, and then holding himself to that self-made contract as if it’s legally binding.

“Focus Points – footwork, pass protection, quickness … Put on a good 10-15 pounds in the right places.” These are just a couple of the mandates Peterson has imposed on himself as he heads into training camp for the ’09 campaign. But perhaps the most telling goal as it pertains to Adrian’s mindset is the one that sits atop the list – “Improve from last season.”

At first glance it seems like an objective for someone who may have stumbled in ’08, or had a down year. But for Peterson, the improvement he seeks is that beyond a season where he ran for 1760 yards, scored 10 touchdowns and earned an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii. Safe to say the guy sets his bar pretty high.

“Before every season I write out my goals. That’s how I make sure I stick to them,” says Peterson. A simple concept with proven results, devastating actually for his opponents. So will Peterson, who was given the nickname “All Day” for his relentless work ethic and supercharged motor, make good on the contract he penned for himself in ’09? Even when one of the goals includes the word Miami?

Those who have followed his career know one thing – Adrian doesn’t put anything on paper he’s not capable of.