Adrian Peterson's workload over the last month has been somewhere between outrageous and Larry Johnson-under-Herm Edwards. Peterson has only grown more productive as the regular season wore on. But he wants to do more.
Peterson said Wednesday he'll suggest to Minnesota Vikings coaches that he should get on the field-goal block team and return kickoffs Saturday night in an NFC wild-card matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
"For the past two years, I've been trying to get in on field-goal block. Come in off the edge, you know?" Peterson said, via The Associated Press. It's just going to take one block for them to really be like, 'OK, you know what? Let's take the chance and let you go out there and get it done.' Kickoff return, I wouldn't mind getting back there. I'm in it to win."
Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer says he has asked coach Leslie Frazier about the idea often, but Frazier shoots it down. So it's a long shot. Then again ...
"We would show him exactly where the return is supposed to hit and let him do his magic," Priefer said. "There's absolutely an opportunity for him to go back there, I would think, in a crucial situation."
Peterson's role on special teams probably will be minimal or non-existent. But it would be so cool to see him returning a kick late in the fourth quarter with a game on the line. Peterson isn't worried about the pounding he has taken over the last month. Heck, he has delivered more punishment than he has taken.
"My body feels great," Peterson said. "I could play for 12 more games if I had to. Seriously."
After Peterson's knee injury last season, we never imagined he'd be playing this week. We're not doubting Peterson's ability to do just about anything at this stage.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
