Brad Childress has made it clear that he’s upset with Adrian Peterson for not showing up at the Vikings’ most recent minicamp. Of course Brett Favre isn’t there, but if Brett wanted to walk around the team complex in his underwear and punch babies in his free time, then Childress has no problem with that. Brett can do whatever he damn well pleases.

From ESPN.com:

Childress opened his post-practice media session by noting this is a “mandatory minicamp.” He provided terse answers about Peterson’s absence, suggested that discipline will be discussed and mocked the significance of “the fourth annual Adrian Peterson day” in Palestine, Texas.

Does it annoy you that he’s not here?

BC: I just know that there’s a bunch of guys here. This has a term “mandatory” for a reason. The work is here. Period. You can say whatever you want. This is the fourth annual Adrian Peterson day. I don’t know if it’s going to be every year. But we’re going to have this, too. …

When did he inform you he wouldn’t be here?

BC: In my office on Thursday. Maybe Wednesday.

Was that a surprise or did you know it was a possibility?

BC: I think somebody showed me something on a website. I had an inkling. Let’s put it that way. I didn’t know if he was going to come out here and practice this afternoon, and then catch a late flight. I didn’t know how he would.

Are you worried that players will start to question the standard you have set for Favre and want to skip camps?

BC: First of all, that’s a special circumstance. I don’t think Adrian is batting around retirement in his mind. It’s a special set of circumstances. Is it special? Is everything equal? Obviously it’s not. That’s just the way it is. It’s a matter of fact. I think everyone understands that from our side.

Sorry, but that’s horseshit. If Childress is going to have a rule that all players must show up to mandatory workouts, then Favre shouldn’t be exempt from that. I realize Brett has a Super Bowl ring on his shelf and Peterson doesn’t, but this is exactly why people shouldn’t respect Childress. This is the second year that he’s bent over and taken it square up the pooper from Favre and if it weren’t so sad, I’d find it humorous that he goes along with whatever Lord Brett wants.

Do I think Peterson should be at camp instead of at a parade? Yeah. But so should Favre. I don’t care how old he is or what injury he’s milking – if he wants to be a part of the Vikings, then he should be in mandatory camps just like everyone else. And don’t tell me that just because Brett knows the offense like the back of his hand that he doesn’t need to be in camp with his teammates. Last time I checked, the Vikings didn’t win the Super Bowl last year.

Brad Childress…what a joke.


Photo from fOTOGLIF