EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -Adrian Peterson’s latest television commercial features the running back juking, stiff-arming and leapfrogging his way through a defense on his way to the end zone.
He trudges off the field after the improbable run, leaving an overmatched and humbled batch of defenders in his wake, then sits in front of his locker. He removes his helmet and pads, revealing an otherworldly skin that takes on the shape and texture of the padding that made him impervious and unstoppable on the field.
Haven’t seen it?
Watch his 64-yard touchdown run at Cleveland on Sunday.
It’s even better.
Held to 25 yards in nine carries in the first half, Peterson needed an IV at halftime to treat dehydration, made himself vomit because he was feeling nauseous and had blood gushing from a wound in his arm early in the third quarter.
fire in his eye, Peterson delivered perhaps the greatest run of a brilliant young career that is already filled with them in the Vikings’ 34-20 season-opening win over the Browns.
“He’s the epitome of what football is,” tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said.
In the city that Jim Brown helped put on the map, and with the Hall of Famer watching from the opposite sideline, Peterson showed off every possible physical gift a running back can possess, all in one play in the fourth quarter.
Kicker Ryan Longwell said he’s never seen anything like it.
“Not even in video games,” Longwell said on Monday. “I called my family after the game. They were down in Orlando and didn’t get (to watch) the game. I told my son, who is a big Adrian fan, that you’ve got to turn on the TV and see this run because it’s something that you’ll never see again.”
First came the vision.
Peterson took the handoff from Brett Favre and surged off left tackle, finding a big hole that got him past the defensive line and linebackers and into the Cleveland secondary.
Then came the agility.
Safety Brodney Pool was the first Browns defender to really have a shot at him, and Peterson stutter-stepped so quickly and violently that Pool fell to the turf while grasping at air.
The power portion was next.
e arm, hurled Wright completely out of bounds.
“That was the ‘kiss the baby’ part right there,” Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards said, borrowing a phrase that Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco uses to say “it’s over.”
Not quite. Then it was time for the acceleration.
From a dead stop, Peterson revved up to full speed again with the end zone in his sights, stiff-arming cornerback Brandon McDonald and then outrunning safety Abram Elam and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley to the goal line for the final 64 of his 180 yards rushing.
All told, six tacklers had their hands on him at one point or another. All came away looking like the actors in that Nike spot.
“It was tough to watch,” Wimbley said. “It was impressive. He showed strength and speed all in one thing. He’s got all the tools.”
It was the eighth run of at least 50 yards, and 17th 100-yard game, for Peterson in just 31 games.
“As far as effort-wise, it’s got to be at the top,” Peterson said. “As far as guys contributing to making a big play happen, it definitely tops it.”
That distinction means it’s the kind of run begging for a name.
“The Run” is too simplistic and fails to convey the unprecedented combination of Barry Sanders’ quickness, Earl Campbell’s power, Brown’s determination and Eric Dickerson’s speed.
Edwards’ “kiss the baby” quote, while entertaining, is already owned by Ochocinco.
Receiver Sidney Rice, who had two big blocks to help spring it, may have the best suggestion.
“I told him, you relived your Nike commercial,” Rice said. “That’s exactly what I told him. He was just out there doing some amazing stuff.”
So there it is.
When referencing Peterson’s highlight-reel runs, look for “The Commercial” right at the top of the heap.
For now.
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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Berea, Ohio, contributed to this story.
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