Adrian Peterson played only 9 snaps in his opener with the Vikings, part of a three-man committee with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. He was seen giving Sean Payton what can p0litely be described as a disenchanted look on the sidelines, which he later explained as telling Payton the Saints needed to run the ball more.
"I didn't sign up for nine snaps," Peterson told the New Orleans Advocate. Apparently it's news to Peterson that the Saints like to pass the ball, they have other running backs who are better at catching the ball than he is, and it's difficult to work the running game when the other team's offense is sticking you in a big hole (which will probably happen regularly to the Saints this year, as always).
The Saints play the Patriots this week, a team that certainly has enough offense to turn the game into a track meet. Will be tough to emphasize the run unless the defense can make a few stops, which doesn't seem terribly likely.
Peterson says he didn't sign up for 9 snaps, but I don't remember a bidding war for his services -- did he have another opportunity to sign with a team? One that had a good defense, liked to run the ball rather than pass it, and wasn't already paying another talented running back starter money?
I have Ingram on a lot of teams, because I didn't think Peterson would work out for the Saints. I did think he might get some extra work against his former team, which of course didn't happen. The question is, if Peterson's not going to get a good workload back in Minnesota, when will he?
Expect a few more withering looks from Peterson to Payton this season, at least until the Saints move on entirely.
--Andy Richardson