[Dion]

Vikings players ready to welcome back Adrian Peterson

Several of his teammates in Minnesota weighed in Tuesday on Peterson's potential return, voicing their support for the running back to rejoin the Vikings, according to ESPN. One of those players, tight end Kyle Rudolph, spoke up about what it would mean to have Peterson back in the locker room:

"We all know the kind of person he is," tight end Kyle Rudolph said. "We've stood behind him this whole time. You'd be crazy not to welcome him back into that locker room. It would be a big pickup for this locker room being we have so many young guys. Any time you can have a veteran back in that locker room, the leader that he is in the locker room, out on the practice field, would be huge for us.

"Guys have chatted amongst each others, and I don't think there's anyone in that locker room that would need to hear from him. We all know the kind of person Adrian is, and I feel like he's proven that over his time here."

It helps that Peterson has been in contact with the team during his absence. Before the Vikings beat the Falcons in Week 4, Peterson passed along a pregame motivational speech for head coach Mike Zimmer to give to the team. He's also given advice to rookie Jerick McKinnon, who has taken over the No. 1 running back spot while Peterson has been out.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/11/...ammates-return