Veteran New Orleans Saints running back Adrian Peterson says he can still be a productive running back for his new team.
The NFC champion Falcons and their renovated defense will find out in December.
The 32-year-old Peterson, who missed most of last season because of a meniscal tear in a knee, signed a two-year, $7 million contract with New Orleans in April.
"It's kind of crazy to hear people even comment on how many years I have left and compare me to other running backs when I'm just my own individual," Peterson said Tuesday. "There's a different mindset, work ethic, body type. This is one thing that I really just dislike about the NFL and kind of how a lot of people try to put guys in a box — especially running backs after that 30 (years old) mark. ... They make it seem like guys are going downhill and that's not necessarily the case — and so in my mind, I feel like I have a lot of years left."
The Falcons play the Saints twice in December, in Atlanta on the 7th and on Christmas Eve in New Orleans.
Peterson said he’s "100 percent" physically, noting that his knee injury was fully healed before last season ended, and that it was an abductor injury that sidelined him for the final couple of games of 2016.
"I am back to doing everything that I did before the injury — but better."
Peterson has posted seven 1,000-yard seasons and once eclipsed 2,000 yards in his 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. His best season, in 2012, came after his first major knee injury, a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament.
Saints coach Sean Payton has said that Peterson would share backfield duties with running back Mark Ingram.
Peterson became a free agent when the Vikings decided not to pick up their $18 million option on him.
The Saints and Vikings meet in week 1 on Monday Night Football.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
About the Author
