If there is one thing that definitely impresses Washington coach Jay Gruden, it is the athletic abilities of one of the team's newest arrivals.
Adrian Peterson penned a one-year contract with the Redskins after visiting the team for a workout on Monday. He participated in his first practice a day later.
The workout solidified Washington's decision to sign the running back, who spent 2017 with both New Orleans and Arizona. Peterson will be competing for the starting job with Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine.
"He's a physical freak," Gruden said, via ESPN. "He's in great shape, explosive, and that's what sold us. Some of the backs we had in here [for workouts] were huffing and puffing, keeling over. He was standing straight up. He could have gone on another two hours."
He's BACK!@AdrianPeterson at @Redskins practice! #HTTR pic.twitter.com/oJmanwXtnm
— NFL (@NFL) August 21, 2018
Peterson, a seven-time Pro Bowl player and the 2012 NFL MVP, has already said what a great opportunity Washington has given him, but on Tuesday he shared his feelings on people doubting his performance on the field, where he's had seven seasons with more than 1,200 rushing yards.
"It shows me people don't really know about football," Peterson said. "People that know the game of football know different situations a player might be in. So when people go back and say, 'Oh, 2.4 yards per carry,' there's a lot that contributes to that as well. I just brush it off."
As far as the battle to be the Redskins' number one RB is concerned, Peterson, who turned 33 in March, is not thinking about the youth of Kelley or Perine. Kelley joined the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and Perine was picked up in the fourth round of the 2017 draft.
"Every summer, we have young guys that come and work out in our gym and [no one] has outworked me," Peterson said. "I'm talking about 21, 22-year-old guys. No matter [if it's] speed work, agility work, running the hill. So that right there is a good measuring stick as well. When you watch the film, I feel like [there's] evidence there to show that, hey, he's still got the burst, acceleration, the power. But I guess everyone doesn't view it that way, and that's fine."