Adrian Peterson ripped by former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond
By Dan Zinski
Adrian Peterson has been taken to task for his statements about training camp by a former Vikings executive.
Remember Jeff Diamond? He was the Vikings’ Senior Vice President of Football Operations from 1991 through 1998. These days Diamond works as an advisor to a sports marketing firm and occasionally hammers out columns for The Sporting News.
Diamond’s most recent piece for The Sporting News sees him taking on Vikings running back Adrian Peterson over statements Peterson made about the grind of training camp.
Apparently, Peterson’s remarks about how much he dislikes having to participate in camp touched a nerve with Old School Jeff Diamond.
In his piece, Diamond crushes Peterson for being whiny, petulant and out-of-touch with the common man. According to Diamond, Peterson needs to stop being so entitled and understand what a privilege it is to play NFL football for a living.
Get off Jeff Diamond’s lawn, Adrian!
In his most excoriating paragraph, Diamond reminds Peterson that he could have things a lot worse (via The Sporting News):
"Think the guys working construction jobs in the summer heat or people working at fast food restaurants for minimum wage would consider it a burden to run around on a practice field in no pads at OTAs? Or lift weights and prepare for the season ahead in training camp while being paid millions of dollars?"
Diamond also brings up Peterson’s past legal problems as proof that the superstar running back simply does not get it. Diamond then calls Peterson’s remarks “an insult to fans” and reminds everyone that back in the ’70s players had a much more rigorous grind to deal with:
"When I first started working in the NFL in the 1970’s, training camps lasted six weeks with two-a-day practices virtually on a daily basis. There were six preseason games. I guarantee you that retired NFL players who worked through that grinding schedule would scoff at Peterson and not be sympathetic to his concerns."
Next: Buddy Ryan's gift to the Vikings
Diamond says the Vikings should take Peterson aside and give him a little refresher in the fine art of PR. Did I mention that Diamond started out in PR before rising to the VP of Football Operations job in Minnesota? So he should know.
Do yourself a favor and read Diamond’s rant in its entirety. It truly is a masterpiece of cranky-old-man tropes. I’m sure Adrian Peterson will be crushed to hear that Jeff Diamond thinks he’s a bad guy.