Most of a full season away from the game hasn't lowered Adrian Peterson's ambitions any.
The Vikings running back reported to training camp on Saturday, receiving the rock-star treatment from fans happy to have the former MVP back in the mix. Peterson is one of only seven players to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. His goal in 2015 is far north of that.
"I always keep the mark at twenty-five (2,500), so if I get close to that, that's not bad," Peterson told the Vikings' official site.
If that sounds familiar, it should. Peterson talked about rushing for 2,500 yards weeks after he fell nine yards short of Eric Dickerson's single-season record in 2012.
"I want to try to set the ball higher than that," Peterson said in January 2013. "I want to make it the 2,500 club. ... It's definitely out there. I feel like it's definitely attainable."
Peterson said in 2013 that Dickerson's record would eventually go down "with ease." He rushed for 1,266 yards the following season, then saw his 2014 season wiped away following a domestic violence arrest. At 30, this could Peterson's last shot to catch Dickerson.
By the way, Peterson would have to average about 157 rushing yards per game over 16 weeks to join the "2,500 club." It's almost certainly not going to happen, but we've doubted AP before. It's not good business.
*The latest Around The NFL Podcast features the triumphant return of Dan Hanzus and discusses the biggest mysteries heading into training camp. *
