2,000 yards? MVP award? Peterson Sets Eye On Highest Levels

BRAINERD, MINN. - The Vikings don't report to training camp for another two months, but it's clear Adrian Peterson has put plenty of thought into what he can do for an encore in his second NFL season.

That 1,341-yard rushing performance (second in the league) and 12 touchdowns by the running back in 2007? The Offensive Rookie of the Year honors? That is so passé.

Peterson's goals for 2008 include a 2,000-yard campaign, an improvement on the 19 catches he had last season and, perhaps, an MVP trophy. "I definitely feel like I can do it," Peterson said Thursday when asked about being voted the league's top player. "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."

Peterson was on pace for a 2,000-yard rushing season eight games into his rookie year, but a lateral collateral ligament tear in his right knee suffered Nov. 11 at Green Bay forced him to miss two games. Peterson said Thursday the knee feels "perfectly fine."

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Vikings' Frazier can't wait to get Allen on the field

Vikings coach Brad Childress and his staff didn't have to look far to find out how well Jared Allen could play. On Sept. 23 last season against the Vikings, Allen had eight solo tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and three quarterback hurries in the Chiefs' 13-10 victory.

Nobody is more excited about Tuesday's trade for the great defensive end than Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

"We get a premier pass rusher," Frazier said. "You and I both know how important that is, in this scheme or any scheme, to have a premier pass rusher.

"He impressed us a great deal, to find a guy who can create sacks without having to blitz. That's exactly what you want. He's able to generate pressure on the quarterback on his own and he's a playmaker. So that gets you very excited."

As for his big game against the Vikings, Frazier said: "He had a big day that day, but he got the best of a lot of tackles last season. He had a great year. So, Bryant had nothing to be ashamed of, Jared won some and Bryant won some as well."

What makes him a Pro Bowl defensive end?

"He's a long guy [6-6, 270] and he just plays so hard, and he's very talented as well," Frazier said. "He's athletic, he can run, he can really run, but his motor, he just never stops working."

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Gannon foresees Jackson reaching potential in '08


Add former Oakland and MVP quarterback Rich Gannon to the people at Winter Park who look for quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to have a great 2008 season.

"I'm excited. I got a chance to go out there a little bit, and I watched -- really, I wanted to look at Tarvaris and see where he has come in just the one short year -- and I got a chance to watch some film and sit down with Childress and really look at him, and talk about him, and evaluate him," said Gannon.

"I think he's made great strides. I think he's a very athletic guy, very gifted, and the big thing for him this year is just consistency."

Gannon, who also played for the Vikings, Redskins and Chiefs, said that Jackson's goal for this season is to stay healthy.

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