On the field, the most popular Minnesota Vikings players of the past few seasons are immensely skilled and tenacious. Harrison Smith is a frequent Pro Bowl attendee whose nickname, “The Hitman,” leaves opposing quarterbacks fearing of interceptions, while Eric Kendricks is coming off an NFL Top-100 player season in 2020. Off the field, however, these same star players tend to shy away from the spotlight, filling media obligations with generic answers (not always with a positive tone) and body language that screams, “Let me go to the locker room already.”
There have been plenty of Vikings who were vocal over the past few seasons, but few Vikings players have been enough of a vocal leader to drown out the mass-media outlets swaying news towards the former antagonists of the team. Finding motivation to cheer on the team was dwindling, stuck between the brief positivity of a newly signed player or recent standout and the overshadowing negativity of upset players in the locker room, failing contract negotiations, and discussing who is to blame for poor team performances.
In 2018 it was the Kirk Cousins contract signing causing a queasy back-and-forth optimism for the future and pessimism towards not drafting a top-ranked QB in the first round. In 2019 it was Stefon Diggs leading the press on a convoluted journey through social media to display his lack of satisfaction with the team prior to shipping out. In 2020 it was Danielle Hunter “tweaking” his neck, then coincidentally needing surgery following a rough start to the season (don’t worry. Danielle, we can forgive you if you crack 15 sacks this season). The void of a vocal leader to swing these situations positively and distract from stress was sorely apparent.
Then the Vikings signed Patrick Peterson.
Closely following the news of the one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings, Peterson began demonstrating a clear example of how an NFL vocal leader should carry themselves. There was a mostly drama-free transition from his former home on the Arizona Cardinals, which, situationally speaking, was handled as maturely as one could expect. Peterson is now doing a wonderful job of making his entire life about Vikings culture for the fanbase to see, and not just when he is padded up or in front of a microphone. He posts pictures wearing purple outfits, hype videos, and shows love for his teammates in purple on a regular basis through his social media.
Back on the Cardinals, Peterson showed the same respect for teammates, giving a shout-out to Budda Baker after he was awarded a contract extension in August of last year, and frequently retweeting Cardinals hype videos and showing enthusiasm for his team. I like to see this type of consistency in a player. It validates the difference between a true team leader and somebody just trying to flaunt their new position to possibly make their old team jealous.
Peterson’s vocal positivity for this team has the potential to make a strong impact on all positions around him, and he backs it up with eight Pro Bowl appearances in a row. The rookies on the team get an experienced leader who they can learn from both on the field and in their personal lives; a necessary resource for young kids right out of college getting their first glimpse at fame. Peterson can show young Vikings cornerbacks like Cameron Dantzler and Harrison Hand how to cultivate longevity and rise to the occasion when it matters the most. When Peterson happens to have criticisms for the team, he discusses them maturely and he doesn’t excuse himself from being part of the problem. This modesty can be a priceless lesson for a young player to learn early in their career.
For the fanbase, Peterson represents a new player ready to fuel the fire and provide some quality chirping with the opponent, providing the energy that has been missing over the past few years. While it may be tough to match the insanity that Everson Griffen, Jared Allen, and John Randle brought to the Vikings, Peterson has a command of his peers that can be equally as effective. For the Minnesota front office, they get a player who can show other free agents what the team has to offer in terms of cohesion and work ethic, possibly influencing future free agents to make the same moves and creating a closer bond between management and players.
Most importantly, this self-imposed leadership role provides motivation to Peterson himself, to elevate his career going from an old team that did not value him before his departure to a new team that trusts in his abilities. As far as NFL career lifecycles go, the 31-year-old Peterson will want to put up stats that match his high praise of the Vikings’ defensive play and show that he is not just another washed-up cornerback looking for a fresh start on a prove-it contract, but that he is a defensive leader of a promising contender. At this stage in his career, Peterson no longer needs to prove himself statistically in order to earn bigger contracts, he is in a position to prove himself in terms of legacy. Thankfully, he is using the Minnesota Vikings as his avenue to success.
