Rookie RB Gerhart is already familiar with some Vikings

Being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings as a second-round pick from the 2010 NFL draft, running back Toby Gerhart seemed doomed to get linked with the team. Although he would put on Vikings jersey for the first time by the time of rookie camp, Gerhart has already known some of the Vikings long before.

The starting running back Gerhart is going to back up, Adrian Peterson has been the rookie’s idol for long. Winning the Heisman Trophy as one of the best college running backs, Gerhart’s career goal is just to become a running back like Peterson, who was a college star already when Gerhart was a freshman in college. Then he met the famous running back at a Super Bowl game and was excited enough to have a handshake with Peterson. Now he really puts on Vikings jersey and will play with his idol, and Gerhart just has more motivation than other rookies to do his best.

Except for Peterson, there is another Vikings a non-stranger to Gerhart. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy used to be recruiting Gerhart to UCLA, but eventually Gerhart went to Stanford and Bieniemy joined the Vikings. So it’s interesting enough that finally the two still came to the same place to work for the same team.

Now Peterson began to surpass Favre in catching attention

Since he decided to get out of retirement and accept Brad Childress’ invitation to put on Vikings jersey, Brett Favre has been mentioned too much when people were talking about every Vikings’ game. We know running back Adrian did as great job, but we were just so busy talking about Favre that we forgot to mention that.

Peterson just ran. He helped take pressure off the quarterback in the second half and eventually put away Cincinnati. He provided some tough, effective running that worked the clock and got him into the end zone twice.

So it is time believe that the Vikings would be even better if they make their offense more about Peterson and less about Favre, to trust Peterson to be the man who can take advantage of what has become a vulnerable Saints run defense if the teams meet in the NFC title game.

Vikings WR Harvin missed third straight practice

Although not willing to rule the rookie receiver out for this Sunday’s game, the Minnesota Vikings Coach Brad Childress is just 100 percent confident that Percy Harvin could appear in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, wearing his Vikings jersey and playing as good as before.

Harvin, dangerous as a receiver and kick returner, missed practice time before the San Francisco and Green Bay games earlier this season and responded well in both. Besides four catches for 51 yards, he returned a kickoff for a touchdown against the 49ers, and had five catches for 84 yards and a touchdown against the Packers.

The Vikings have 14 players listed on injury report, with 13 of them starters. Injuries are bothering running back Adrian Peterson, right tackle Phil Loadholt and left guard Steve Hutchinson. Even starting quarterback Brett Favre was limited in Friday’s practice, not because of injury but a coach’s decision.

Vikings RB Peterson was limited in practice with back injury

Because of back injury, the Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson had to be limited in practice Wednesday, making his status for this Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers uncertain while a lot fans expect to see him in his vikings jersey.

Peterson was hurt during the Monday game against the Detroit Lions. Three days later, the team announced that the starting running back was placed onto the team’s injury report. Peterson has been the league’s leading rusher and rushed for 92 yards and made one touchdown during the game against the Lions.

On Wednesday’s workout, safety Madieu Williams was also limited with a shoulder injury. And linebackers Erin Henderson and E.J. Henderson did not practice at all. Erin missed because of a calf injury, and E.J., Erin’s brother, who is also the team’s leading tackler this season and had eight tackles in 27-13 win over the Lions on Sunday, missed because he had a shoulder injury.