Adrian Peterson's dad: Give the ball to Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson: Too polite to demand the ball -- fortunately, his dad's not.

​Adrian Peterson is one of the most exciting running backs in the history of the NFL. And, after the Vikings cut a gigantic check on the eve of this season's first game, he's on track to be one of the best paid NFL players of all time.

So, why won't Minnesota just give him the damn ball and get out of his way?

That's the question Peterson's dad, Nelson Peterson, is asking in the Pioneer Press today. In the Vikings loss to Detroit on Sunday, Peterson torched the Lions in the first half, running all over them. In the second half, All Day was relegated to something like "Half-Day," with Leslie Frazier's offense relying less and less on the $100 million man.

Sounding for all the world like a Minnesotan gesturing wildly at his TV screen as the Vikings' 20-0 lead slipped away, Nelson Peterson voiced disappointment on his son's behalf.

"[Adrian] wanted to help them win the game," Peterson told the Pioneer Press. And then, with incredulity: "Five carries in the second half?"
Nelson Peterson told the PiPress that he can "see the agony on [Adrian's] face." Man, wait until he sees the faces of Vikings fans, who've now suffered through three straight games which saw the Vikings build a big lead and then throw up all over their own cleats in the second half.

Nelson Peterson can legitimately tell the coach to give the ball to his kid.

​The Detroit loss, of course, was the most egregious one yet, with Dr. Jekyll scoring 20 points in the first half and Mr. Hyde coming up with only three in the second. Donovan McNabb got to throw the ball 18 times in the second half -- or more than three times more often than he handed it to the baddest man in the backfield.

Because Peterson is too much of a gentleman about it -- when the topic comes up, his only response is to compliment his offensive line -- it's left to pops to complain.

"[Adrian] thought that, with a 20-0 lead, he was ready to lead them to a victory," Nelson Peterson said. "He's being a good sport about it, but he's upset."

For his part, coach Frazier said he has to "remind [himself]" that they don't want Peterson only getting the ball five times in the second half of a close game. Yikes.

Here's who's not forgetting about Peterson: The Wilf brothers, the guys who just gave him a check that has eight zeros on the end of it.

The only defense against Adrian Peterson is the Vikings' offense.

Related:

• Adrian Peterson signs $100 million contract with the Vikings
• City Pages' Best Vikings Player: Adrian Peterson
• Yahoo! censors Adrian Peterson "modern-day slavery" quote [UPDATE]