Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Mike Zimmer tells Adrian Peterson he's thankful for him

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- When the Minnesota Vikings assembled for a short practice on Friday morning, after Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday, coach Mike Zimmer had some kind words for Adrian Peterson.

"I told him today how much I appreciated him, everything he does for us," Zimmer said. "His leadership, the way he comes out here to practice, the way he prepares -- really everything. I’m impressed with him, just the way he does things all of the time."

Was Zimmer in the holiday spirit? "No -- sometimes I’m nice," he said. "I say nice things to guys. It’s not often, but once in a while I do."

Well, in any case, the coach is probably happy to have a different relationship to Peterson than the last time both were in a Vikings-Falcons game together.

It was Sept. 9, 2007, in the Vikings' season opener against the Falcons. Peterson didn't start the game at running back, but took a swing pass from Tarvaris Jackson 60 yards for a touchdown to put the Vikings up 16-3 in the fourth quarter. Zimmer was in his first game as the Falcons' defensive coordinator, and wound up working there for only one year, when Bobby Petrino left for Arkansas with three games remaining in a season where the Falcons went 4-12.

Peterson nearly bobbled the pass from Jackson, but once he controlled it, he flew past Falcons defenders nearly untouched for his first career touchdown.

"I remember catching it and seeing one guy to beat: DeAngelo Hall," Peterson said. "I remember taking off full-speed at him. Sidney (Rice) came off and made a great block, and I ended up taking it to the house. It was one I'll never forget."

Peterson didn't remember Zimmer was the Falcons' defensive coordinator back then, but he appreciated what the coach had to say to him on Friday.

"It feels good," Peterson said. "But knowing Coach Zim, I get that sense from him anyway, that he's appreciative -- not only of me, but all the guys, as well. It's a mutual feeling."

 

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