Getty Lions RB Adrian Peterson runs against Jacksonville.
Swanky gifts are a popular way for NFL players to connect and show their thanks for helping each other on the field. Adrian Peterson may have just broken the mold with this as it relates to the Detroit Lions.
Recently, some photos on Instagram surfaced of four-time All-Pro apparently handing out electric bikes to teammates on the offense. Wideout Marvin Hall and tight end T.J. Hockenson gave Peterson a shoutout for the gifts while posting about the bikes and how cool they were.
Here’s a look:
Based on several Instagram stories, it seems that Adrian Peterson handed out electric bikes to a bunch of his teammates today.
The Reason Behind Peterson’s Gift
According to Peterson, there was a purpose behind the reward for the players. The reason for his random act of gifting was in order to thank the team for helping him surpass Barry Sanders on the all-time NFL rushing attempts list, as noted by SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit. with a strong finish to the year, A.P. could pass the Lions legend for fourth place on the league’s all-time rushing yardage list.
The comparison between Peterson and Sanders is uncanny. Both were excellent runners in their prime and while Sanders walked away at age 30, Peterson has only seemingly gotten better with age and continues to dominate in his own way.
Heading into the holiday season, the team will likely hope that Peterson can smash some more records the rest of the way. Next up will be a revenge game against his most recent squad, the Washington Football Team.
Notable Adrian Peterson Stats
Throughout his 14-year pro career, Peterson has been one of the more productive backs in football, so it’s not a surprise to see him setting more marks and handing out the hardware as a result. The 2012 NFL MVP stuck with the Minnesota Vikings from 2007-2016, then landed with the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals and finally in Washington for the past two seasons before landing in Detroit. Peterson is a lock to be in the Hall of Fame shortly after his playing days end. The former Oklahoma Sooner is also a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro runner.
In 2020, Peterson could make NFL history with the Lions with a strong enough finish to the season. Peterson’s 14,566 career rushing yards currently ranks fifth all-time, trailing Barry Sanders’ 15,269 career yards. Heading into Week 10, the 35-year-old needs only 703 yards with eight games to play. So far, he isn’t exactly on track to getting that done given his 350 rushing yards to this point in time through Week 9.
It would be an interesting postscript if Peterson was to play the final years of his career in Detroit and manage to surpass Sanders in this way as well. That’s especially true given his standing as a long-time Lions rival and classic tormentor.
If Peterson manages to pass Sanders again, it’s likely that he will celebrate with more big purchases like this for his teammates. That’s something that should motivate the team to come through for their veteran back the rest of the way.
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