He overcame a stuttering problem that still makes his lips quiver about once a sentence.
He took the road less traveled to the NFL via Division I-AA Georgia Southern. He has backed up three Bears running backs since arriving in Chicago in 2002.
Nothing Adrian Peterson experiences Sunday against the Giants replacing the injured Cedric Benson figures to make the veteran flinch.
How long has he waited for this opportunity?
“Six years, honestly,” Peterson answered. “So I’m not trying to do anything special. Play the same role, just at the start of the game. I have a job to do.”
Against the Giants and the NFL’s best pass rush, that job could encompass blocking as much as running and include as many receptions as handoffs. More than anything, Peterson brings more versatility to the backfield than the Bears had with Benson.
Not to speak ill of the injured, but because of that reality the Bears will miss Benson the way a horse misses a bridle.
Benson confined the offense more than he contributed to its fullest development. High maintenance, Peterson isn’t.
Injuries have a way of making us overstate players’ importance. But we can feel bad that Benson got hurt and still acknowledge he was a major disappointment this year. By season’s end, could this turn into a case of addition by subtraction for the offense?
Nobody at Halas Hall will ever admit that or agree. But they aren’t exactly wringing their hands and wondering how they can make a playoff run now that Benson is out for the season. How many NFL teams would take losing their so-called featured back as well as the Bears have?
Part of that is because of confidence in Peterson. But part of it has to do with lost faith in Benson.
That doesn’t mean the Bears shouldn’t bring back Benson next year after he rehabilitates his ankle. The Bears need another look at Benson, even if it’s as an expensive backup battling a draft pick for carries, and would take too heavy a salary-cap hit by releasing him. It only means the composed reaction to Benson’s injury illustrates how replaceable he had become.
“Cedric is a big loss, but Adrian’s going to step in there and do well,” Rex Grossman said. “We’re all real excited to see him play a full game.”
When defenses weren’t limiting Benson’s production, offensive coordinator Ron Turner was with odd substitution patterns that killed momentum for a back who relied on it to wear down defenses.
Sure, Benson had started to show glimpses of the runner the Bears needed him to be, with 208 yards on 47 carries in his last two-plus games. But even his increased production hadn’t given the Bears the bona fide running game they sought or expected. Benson still gave them the league’s third-worst rushing offense at 85.3 yards per game.
Beyond the disappointing numbers, a constant worry revolved around Benson getting enough carries, blocking the right guy on pass plays, catching the ball, fumbling, whatever. For the first time this season, they can put together a game plan without asterisks or a script dictating substitution patterns.
What does that mean for Garrett Wolfe? For the Bears to give themselves the best chance to win, maybe not as much as fans in Wolfe’s hometown are hoping.
Turner said he would let “the feel of the game” dictate when to use Wolfe. But if the Bears use Wolfe more than to give Peterson a breather, they could be asking for trouble.
One day Wolfe might develop into an NFL running threat, but that day isn’t likely going to come against a Giants’ defense that leads the league with 38 sacks. Playing Wolfe injects doubt into the equation. Peterson removes it.
“This is his sixth year in the league,” Grossman said. “He understands our protection schemes real well. He can anticipate blitzes better than a lot of running backs in the league. He’s smart and strong enough to take on some defensive tackles and linebackers blitzing up the ‘A’ gap. And he showed Sunday how strong of a runner he is.”
Grossman was referring to the 4-yard TD run when Peterson turned the tables and had the Broncos ride him into the end zone. At 5 feet 10 inches and 210 pounds, Peterson probably has better power than elusiveness. But nobody knows how he will respond to carrying the load for an offense — because he’s never been asked.
Peterson’s last start was 69 games ago, on Oct. 19, 2003, against the Seahawks. He gained 55 yards on 16 carries before leaving with an ankle injury. He posted career highs with 24 carries and 120 yards Nov. 11, 2005, the last time he stepped in for Benson, against the 49ers.
Neither Peterson’s 17 carries netting only 45 yards Sunday nor the fact that he doesn’t have a run this season longer than 11 yards have lulled the Giants into any false sense of security. They believe what the Bears believe.
“You talk about a guy who has a lot of receptions, done a good job on third down protecting, ran the ball well when called upon, moved the pile, tough, hard, inside runs,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “We respect and acknowledge all the things he’s been able to do.”
Asked about the difference in the Bears offense with Peterson, Giants defensive end Michael Strahan saw none.
“Peterson’s a very good player,” he said. “Basically they have two starters, [so] we’re looking at it as if Cedric Benson is going to play. I don’t think they will be different.”
In some ways, they might be better.
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dhaugh@tribune.com
