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Adrian Peterson Talks Nicknames, Fantasy Football And More

Maybe he torched your favorite team’s defense for record-breaking yardage (296 yards against the Chargers, respect!). Maybe he cost you your most important fantasy week. Either way, we’re sure you’ve been fully acquainted with Vikings rookie RB, Adrian Peterson. When we caught up with “the Purple Jesus” at LRG’s Spring 2008 photo shoot he chalked up his success to his o-line in a classy show of modesty. But his blinged-out Breitling did all the talking for him. Read what he had say about his nicknames, being this year’s #1 fantasy sleeper, and how it feels to have his formerly incarcerated father able to watch him run amok on Sundays.

Complex.com: What do you think of the Purple Jesus nickname?
Adrian Peterson: It’s crazy and kind of scary for people to compare me to Jesus. Nobody will ever compare to Jesus and it makes me feel good that people are recognizing talent.

C: You’ve been compared to Eric Dickerson, who did you idolize coming up?
Adrian Peterson: Being from Texas, I liked Emmitt Smith, Eddie George, Terrell Davis, those are the guys I really watched growing up.

C: How does it feel to be the fantasy football sleeper of the year?
Adrian Peterson: It feels good. I came in knowing what I can bring to the game, and I’ve stayed on track. I’ve been able to do some amazing things this year. I knew that believing in myself, making the transition and doing what I thought I could do, would sooner or later show people that I’m a ballplayer.

C: Do you think you deserve a cut of all those self-made fantasy GM’s winnings?
Adrian Peterson: (laughs) You know what? That’d be nice.

C: Going into the season you had high expectations for yourself, did you ever think you would perform this well?
Adrian Peterson: Yeah, you know being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, I came in with a great offensive line, with Bryant McKinnie, and Matt Birk. Without the guys I had in front of me, it wouldn’t have been possible to break any type of record.

Adrian Peterson / Photo: VikingsFrenzy

C: Was it ironic to break the record running against a team with one of the games best RB’s ever?
Adrian Peterson: It was. Not only that, it was one of the best defenses I’ve seen in a long time. Shawne Merriman and the Chargers defense have some real ball players on it, so it felt good. I have to give credit to my offense line; those are the guys that really made it happen for me.

C: What’s in your pre-game music rotation?
Adrian Peterson: I got Lil Wayne, some Jeezy, and I play some Kanye West songs from time to time. Maybe some Cassidy, I tend to mix it up.

C: You’ve been through more than most people growing up, how does that transform into motivation for you?
Adrian Peterson: I never stop encouraging myself. Realizing that I didn’t come from a lot, and growing up I had some trouble and really got into different situations that, I recognized God is really the only one who could get me through them. Once I recognized that it really helped me stay focused and keep my eye on my dream.

C: How was it when your dad got to watch you play after he was released from prison?
Adrian Peterson: It was amazing. It felt good. He was out of my life for nine years, he didn’t get to see me play since I was in little league, and then when he got out I was playing in college. It was definitely an experience that I had been waiting for.

C: Does he go to your games now?
Adrian Peterson: Yeah, it’s a lot different. These days I’m traveling and he’s meeting up with me after the game, and he talks to me before games too. He’s there physically now, so it’s a lot different.

C: Do you see yourself as the Vikings’ messiah?
Adrian Peterson: I wouldn’t say that, it’s bigger than me. I wouldn’t say that at all. It takes more than one player to win the game.

C: What year-end accolades are you looking forward to, maybe rookie of the year?
Adrian Peterson: Rookie of the year would be great, going up there for myself, but definitely making it to the playoffs as a team is something that would mean a lot to me as well.

C: So what nickname does better with the ladies Purple Jesus, or your old alias “All Day?”
Adrian Peterson: All Day… and All Night! Make sure you add that last part on.

–Joe La Puma