Adrian Peterson Wants 2,000 Yards

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (Purple Jesus) is setting lofty goals for 2008. Peterson wants to accomplish the following:

- 2,000 yards rushing.
- Improve upon his 2007 reception total (19).
- Win the NFL Most Valuable Player trophy.

"I definitely feel like I can do it," Peterson said. "Anything is possible. Especially with how my mindset is. I set my bar high. I expect a lot from myself. I'm surrounded by a great group of guys offensively and defensively on both sides, special teams, so it's possible for anything to happen."

And while the article about Peterson's goals in 2008 doesn't mention the word "playoffs" once, you've got to assume that if Peterson accomplishes those goals, the Minnesota Vikings will be racking up W's.

Or do you?

Five players (Eric Dickerson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and OJ Simpson) have rushed for 2,000 yards in a single-season. Two of them (Sanders and Simpson) did so for teams that failed to make the playoffs that season. (To be fair, the '73 Bills would have made the post-season if the Wild Card playoff format existed at that time.)

For the Vikings to make the playoffs in 2008, Peterson doesn't have to hit that 2,000-yard mark. 1,800 yards would likely do the trick. There have been eighteen 1,800-yard seasons in NFL history, and all but four (Sanders in '97, Simpson in '73 and '75, and Jim Brown in '63) have resulted in playoff appearances for their respective teams.

NFL News and Notes

New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington won the coin toss and was the starting quarterback as the team opened voluntary practices.

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was surprised Bill Parcells didn't cut him.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are okay with Troy Polamalu's alternative workout regiment.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs is excited about getting an increased role in the Browns' offense.

The Florence, Kentucky home of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry is in foreclosure and will be sold at auction on May 22nd.

When the Indianapolis Colts open a mandatory mini-camp today, will Marvin Harrison be there? Colts owner Jim Irsay thinks Indianapolis would make a good Super Bowl site.

Jacksonville Jagaurs defensive tackle Rob Meier received a four-year contract extension worth $15 million dollars.

30-year old Denver Broncos assistant general manager Jeff Goodman says there's a benefit to "being young and having outside-the-box thoughts".

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards says that you've got to know who the five starters on the offensive line are going to be heading into training camp.

Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell looks noticeably slimmer than he was when the team drafted him last April.

The Dallas Cowboys revealed their season ticket prices for their new stadium on Thursday.

Free agent defensive end Renaldo Wynn visited the New York Giants on Thursday.

The Washington Redskins released wide receiver/kick returner Jerome Mathis yesterday.

Josh Barnett of the Philadelphia Daily News evaluates each NFC East team's off-season.

Former Green Bay Packers running back Herbert Goodman is now an MMA fighter.

Undrafted guard Matt Butler signed a contract with the Detroit Lions.

Former Texas and NFL great Earl Campbell criticized Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback B.J. Askew agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $8.6 million.

The Charlotte Observer has more of Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox's Q&A session on Wednesday.

Arizona Cardinals guard Reggie Wells and his father graduated from Clarion University last Saturday.

San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary (who should be a head coach in the NFL) had a strong message for the coaches who attended the 49ers' coaches clinic last weekend.

St. Louis Rams running back Brian Leonard expects to be much busier in Al Saunders offensive system.

Spygate Zone

Boston Herald beat-writer John Tomase issued his apology this morning.

In an interview that airs on tonight's episode of "Real Sports" on HBO, former New England Patriots video employee Matt Walsh contradicts Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's assertion that the impact of the tapes was "minimal".

Former Patriots assistant and current New York Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll told the NFL that he has no recollection of talking to Walsh prior to Super Bowl XXXVI.

Former St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz issued a statement on Thursday, stating that he was "stunned" by Walsh's allegation that he was on the sideline in Patriots apparel during the Rams walk-through.