Adrian Peterson honored with MVP and OPOY awards
Being a member of the NFL, Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings is no stranger to injury and the adversity he faces when trying to recover.
At the end of the 2011 football season, Peterson suffered a torn ACL and LCL I injury along with severe meniscus damage. That is a combination of injuries that knocks most players out of professional sports and it forced Peterson to make a tough decision: retire or rehab?
Peterson chose to rehab and it has paid extreme dividends as he caps off a fantastic season with the Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards. His injuries were nothing but a distant memories at awards night, as Peterson was all smiles and graciously accepted the rewards for his hard work. Peterson had a long and hard road to recovery, but with his hard work and dedication he was able to have a productive season for the Vikings and is looking forward to getting back on the field in the 2013 season.
Peterson fully realizes the gravity of the situation he was in, the thought of hanging up his spikes is never easy for any athlete but Peterson’s dedication won out in the end.
“My career could have easily been over, just like that,” the running back said. “Oh man. The things I’ve been through throughout my lifetime has made me mentally tough.”
What’s even more astounding is that Peterson beat out Peyton Manning, who also battled back from injury, to win the MVP award. Peterson also nearly broke Eric Dickerson’s longstanding rushing record, falling just nine yards short. Now that Peterson has ended his season on a healthy note he can prepare for 2013 and make another attempt at NFL history.
