Vikings Peterson wants to play special teams

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. Adrian Peterson led the Minnesota Vikings into the playoffs by rushing for the second-highest single-season total in NFL history. If Peterson had it his way, he would have done even more and wouldn't mind the chance in Saturday's playoff game at Green Bay. He's accomplished nearly everything possible as a running back, so what else could Peterson do? How about special teams? "Yeah, for the past two years I've been trying to get on field goal block; come off the edge," Peterson said Wednesday. "It's going to take one block for them to just really be like, OK, you know what? We'll take the chance and let you go out there and get it done.' Kickoff return, I wouldn't mind getting back there. Hey, I'm in it to win." Peterson finished his comeback season from knee surgery with an NFL-high 2,097 yards rushing. He added 40 catches, the second-best single-season total of his career, for 217 receiving yards while leading the league with 2,314 yards from scrimmage and was tied for third with 13 touchdowns. But Peterson wants to do more. The last time Peterson returned a kickoff was in his second season for the Vikings in 2008, with one return in the playoffs. He did have 16 returns for a 25.8-yard average in his rookie season as he was a part-time starter at running back along with Chester Taylor. Peterson said he would be willing to be put back for another return even in Saturday's playoff game. "Yeah," Peterson said when asked if he would lobby for the chance in the right situation. "I believe in having your best players on the field, especially in critical times. You never know what can happen. That's what I would do." Follow Brian Hall on Twitter.