HONOLULU -- This wasn't a case of a young guy who simply didn't know better.
Rookie rewind
Adrian Peterson became the first rookie since Marshall Faulk to win Player of the Game honors after finishing with the second-most rushing yards in Pro Bowl history. Faulk had the most in 1995:
Adrian Peterson Carries: 16
Rushing yards: 129
Per carry avg.: 8.1
Touchdowns: 2
Marshall Faulk Carries: 13
Rushing yards: 180
Per carry avg.: 13.8
Touchdowns: 1
Sure, Adrian Peterson is a rookie. Sure, the Pro Bowl was a new experience for him. Sure, he might not have been all that familiar with the game's somewhat casual tempo.
But Peterson operates at only one speed: Full.
That was the reason that he ran for 1,341 yards for the Minnesota Vikings, becoming the first rookie to lead the NFC in that category since Barry Sanders in 1989. That was the reason he established the league's single-game rushing record with 296 yards against San Diego.
And that was the speed at which Peterson functioned Sunday in rushing for 129 yards (second-most in Pro Bowl history) and two touchdowns in the NFC's 42-30 victory over the AFC. The performance earned him MVP honors and high praise from his fellow Pro Bowlers.
One who knows Peterson better than most of the game's other participants is Viking center Matt Birk.
"It doesn't matter when, where, he's going to run hard," Birk said. "That's the only thing he knows how to do. That's the only way he knows how to do it."
Normally, the Pro Bowl is an air show. Normally, the quarterbacks and receivers pile up the most impressive stats.
But while that did happen on Sunday, it was Peterson, who averaged 8.1 yards on 16 carries, who was the biggest difference-maker. He impacted the game the same way the last rookie to win Pro Bowl Player of the Game, Marshall Faulk, did by setting the game's rushing record with 180 yards in 1995. Besides his two scoring runs, Peterson also exploded for a 39-yard run to open an NFC touchdown drive late in the first half. He also caught a nine-yard pass from Tony Romo to help set up the NFC's first score.
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"He has a chance to be one of the best to ever play the game," Washington Redskins veteran offensive tackle Chris Samuels said. "The way he runs the ball is amazing. I enjoyed blocking for him."
Peterson is humble enough to accept such praise with a sense of surprise rather than entitlement. He dedicated the Player of the Game award to Sean Taylor, the Redskins' Pro Bowl safety who was murdered during a home invasion during the season.
Asked if he could think of a better way to cap his spectacular first season, Peterson said, "I really can't. (Considering) we didn't make the playoffs, this was (a good consolation prize)."
Although he is only a rookie, Peterson had the good sense to fly the non-Pro Bowl Vikings offensive linemen, including backups, to Hawaii to enjoy the week with him.
"Those guys take care of me so I've got to do the same for them," he said.
For as much as he has accomplished as a rookie, he understands his career has not been made by one season. He faces the extremely difficult challenge of trying to surpass, or even match, his firs-year achievements.
But he is determined to do so.
"You've always got room to improve," Peterson said. "You've just got to continue to set your bars higher and higher and higher."
Peterson's talent is a given. What gives him a chance to excel beyond his rookie season is his attitude.
"Whether it's the Pro Bowl, a no-padded practice during the season or the offseason, he just goes hard all the time," Birk said. "That's what makes him good right now and I think that's what's going to make him great."
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