Despite being barred from all team activities after being placed on the NFL's exempt list, Adrian Peterson is still attempting to remain somewhat active with the Minnesota Vikings. Shortly before the team's 41-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Peterson texted coach Mike Zimmer some words of encouragement, ESPN reports. Zimmer read the brief message to players before they took the field.
"The words that Adrian texted Coach Zimmer were very deep," quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said. "One thing I took away from that message was, play each down like it's your last, because you never know when it's going to be your last opportunity. I think the guys got that message pretty well."
Peterson, who reportedly still thinks he'll be allowed to play this season while facing child abuse charges, has been Minnesota's top offensive weapon for several years. However, he wasn't needed Sunday as the Vikings ran for 241 yards and rookie first-round pick Bridgewater threw for 317 yards on 19 of 30 attempts before leaving the game with a sprained ankle.
Rookie rusher Jerick McKinnon added a 55-yard run to help become the first Vikings rookie since Peterson to rush for more than 100 yards in a game. He finished with 135 yards on 18 carries. Peterson's main replacement, Matt Asiata, also had himself a day as he rushed for three touchdowns.
"We felt him in spirit," Asiata told 1500ESPN.com. "He gave us a text, a motivational speech in a text, and we came out punching."
Asiata rushed 20 times for 78 yards, in addition to his trio of scores.
"(Peterson) just sent it to Coach," linebacker Gerald Hodges told 1500ESPN.com. "Him and coach were texting back and (Peterson) said he wanted to share some things. He just said he'd love to be out here, would be dying to be out here with us. But everything's out of his control. He just said go out there and play your hearts out like it's your last time playing."
Although the franchise placed Peterson on the exempt list after mounting scrutiny, his teammates' comments are a rare show of public support for the running back. Peterson's NFL future is currently murky, pending the results of a legal investigation.
Minnesota evens their record at 2-2 with the win.
