Peterson and Childress are Cool in Viking-Ville

By Kevin Seifert
ESPN.com
Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson still hasn't explained why he attended a hometown parade instead of the team's minicamp. But in his first public statement since that weekend, Peterson ruled out one possible justification.

"It had nothing to do with Brett Favre," Peterson said Friday, according to the Tulsa World. "If anyone deserves any kind of leeway, it's definitely Brett Favre. He's been there 20 years, a Hall of Fame quarterback. I'm not on the same level as him."

Minnesota coach Brad Childress made clear he wasn't happy with Peterson's decision, but the newspaper reported that Peterson has smoothed over the incident with the Vikings' front office. "It's over with," Peterson said.

In truth, it would have been out of character and wholly surprising had Peterson skipped minicamp because he thought he was entitled to the "Favre Rules." As we discussed earlier this month, that explanation always seemed unlikely.

There has been plenty of discussion about Peterson's contract status and its possible connection for his absence. But if the issue came up during Peterson's media availability Friday, it wasn't addressed in the Tulsa World story.