Adrian Peterson learning what he should have known: Saints don't care about his feelings! 
It wasn't a homecoming. It was humiliation. 
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So much so that Adrian Peterson should give serious consideration to immediate retirement.
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Peterson not only failed to log extensive snaps against his former team in his Saints debut. He was forced to watch Dalvin Cook, a younger, cheaper and, at this point, better version of himself, break his Vikings rushing record for a rookie debut (127 yards) during Monday night’s 29-19 loss.
That onto itself was brutal. But there’s more. ......
MORE: Saints-Vikings highlights, statsThe only guy who had a worse Monday night on the sideline was Sergio Dipp. Peterson's frustration at not playing more became the game’s big story when ESPN cameras captured him giving Saints coach Sean Payton a death stare late in the first half.
Not that it matters to Payton one iota, as Peterson will soon learn. More on that later.
Peterson and Payton tried to deny
that there was even an issue during their postgame news conferences, which came across with the same legitimacy as answers at a White House press briefing.
"There's no conflict,” 
said Peterson, 
who also took to Twitter trying to downplay the matter. "Let's not try to spin it like there is." 
Even if we indulge Peterson and say there isn’t, there soon will be if he doesn't understand what life will be like in New Orleans.
The greatest athletes are also filled with great confidence. Peterson's domination through his first seven NFL seasons led him to believe anything was possible — including having a legitimate shot at Emmitt Smith’s all-time rushing record — and his ego was bloated accordingly.
That dream started becoming unrealistic a few years ago, when Peterson missed almost the entire 2014 campaign because of a domestic-abuse situation involving his son. Peterson rebounded with 1,485 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015 but then missed all but three games last season with a knee injury.
At the same time, Peterson's presence in Minnesota was placing unspoken pressure on the team's offensive coordinators to make him the main focus of the attack even though doing so limited the overall unit. That approach would have worked well in a bygone era, but not in today’s league, in which the emphasis is on throwing, and the best running backs — Zeke Elliott, Le’Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman among them — are dual threats as rushers and receivers.
The Vikings could still enjoy offensive success during Peterson's heyday with a ground-and-pound mantra that worked around his deficiencies in the passing game, and because Peterson simply was that good. The philosophy was no longer feasible as Peterson grew older and began showing wear and tear.
The fact Peterson still believed he was the same caliber runner and all that goes with that mindset contributed to Minnesota releasing him this offseason without even trying to restructure his bloated contract. The Vikings simply didn't need the headache he could become if not fed the football enough.
........
The immediate lack of free-agent interest should have further given the 32-year-old a reality check. It didn't. All the things Peterson said after signing with the Saints about being a team player and willing to work in a rotation of running backs were rendered hot air with Monday night's sideline behavior.
Peterson also learned Payton doesn't care about his feelings,
which he should have known before coming to the Big Easy.
IYER: Biggest Week 1 overreactions
It's no secret that Payton believes almost every skill-position spot on his team is interchangeable besides quarterback Drew Brees. Consider some of the talent Payton has traded away during his 12 seasons as Saints coach: Brandin Cooks, Jimmy Graham, Darren Sproles, Kenny Stills — and his offense keeps ticking.
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Pouting won't do Peterson any good, either. He can ask Mark Ingram, whose bumpy relationship with Payton led to ex-Saints running back Tim Hightower being given goal-line carries in 2016, per a source.
Peterson didn't even get that opportunity against Minnesota despite his hard-charging style being well-suited for short-yardage situations. Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara were the only ones who carried on two drives inside the Vikings' 4-yard line. New Orleans was forced to settle for field goals on both possessions, as neither back could make headway, further adding to Peterson’s consternation.
There’s no guarantee Payton will handle things differently when a similar situation arises during the season. Peterson, too, showed little to indicate he deserved expanded snaps over Ingram and Kamara. After a 9-yard carry to open the game, Peterson gained 9 yards on his other five attempts.
It would behoove Payton and Peterson to meet and discuss whether the latter's limited role will continue and, if so, whether he can deal with it. Being a distraction does no good for either party or the team.
Payton clearly has an idea in mind for Peterson. Otherwise, Peterson wouldn't have remained on the Week 1 roster, which guaranteed his $1 million base salary.
Peterson's action may increase if the Saints get a lead or face an opponent that struggles to stop the run. Maybe it will take an injury to Ingram or Kamara for that to happen. Maybe Peterson becomes midseason trade bait for a team in need of running back help.
Or maybe the player nicknamed
“All Day" decides to call it a day and begin the countdown to his eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. The thought should at least cross his mind after Monday night's embarrassment.
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