I would like to take this moment to publicly offer and declare my support of Adrian Peterson’s as NFL MVP and Comeback Player of the Year for the 2012-2013 season.

    In fact, A.D. “All Day” probably shouldn’t even be playing football at such a high level quite yet. That is, if he were human and not a complete freak of an athlete.

    Peterson tore an ACL and MCL in the same knee less than a year ago, on Dec. 24, 2011. I’m not a doctor by any means, but it’s said that after surgery the average rehab time (before an athlete can even begin to work out on the leg) is seven to nine months. What follows is generally a period of working back into shape and full playing strength, something that can take a few additional months.

    Not Peterson. He was suited up and ready to go Sept. 9 when the Vikings beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in overtime. Peterson rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns that game, was cutting and juking as if nothing had happened, less than nine months after surgery.

    Like I said, he’s a freak.

    Peterson has a career-best 1,812 yards so far this season and is 294 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105, a mark that has stood since 1984. You know, since before Peterson was even born.

    Did you see him on Sunday? He torched the Rams for 212 yards on just 24 carries, including an electrifying 82-yarder where he shot up the middle and outraced the entire defense.

    The Vikings are currently 8-6 and have victories over the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions (twice) and the Chicago Bears. Without Peterson, Minnesota wouldn’t be close to as good as they are or in the playoff hunt. Think Arizona Cardinals. That would be the Vikings sans A.D.

    Peterson’s numbers and his value to Minnesota and the league are more than enough forhim to take home the MVP trophy. The fact that he has done it all so soon after a full ACL surgery warrants a Comeback Player of the Year Award.

    This has nothing to do with NFL awards, but did you know his dad, Nelson Peterson, played basketball at Idaho State from 1983-85 and was a first team All-Big Sky player in ‘85? Had he stuck around, maybe Adrian could have been a Bengal...

    See, there is some sentimental value in my pick for Peterson as MVP and Comeback P.O.Y.

    He probably won’t win them both, and Peyton Manning has a legitimate shot at the Comeback honors, but there’s no arguing that Peterson doesn’t deserve serious consideration.