NFL players want to see Adrian Peterson in the Super Bowl

Even though his list of accomplishments is quite lengthy, 28-year-old Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has never played in the Super Bowl during his career.

His peers around the NFL have a problem with that.

According to an anonymous survey of more than 320 players in the league, almost 20 percent of NFL players voted that Peterson is the guy they’d most like to see make his Super Bowl debut.

Peterson was the NFL MVP in 2012. Eighty-eight players received at least one vote.

Tony Gonzalez and Calvin Johnson were next on the list. The fourth-place finisher, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, will play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 against the Denver Broncos.

"That's pretty cool," Peterson said. "It feels good. I guess guys are able to see the passion that I play with, the desire I play with, and they respect it enough to make that type of statement. It says a lot, and it means a lot."

Peterson was a game away from the Super Bowl when the Vikings lost to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship during the 2009 season.

"I don't think I watched [the Super Bowl that year]," Peterson said. "We gave that one away. We gave a championship away. The NFC Championship Game was pretty much the Super Bowl that year. Not to take anything away from the Colts [who lost to the Saints in the Super Bowl] -- that was a good team -- but just how it balanced out, neither one of us was a good matchup they wanted to see in the Super Bowl. That was a tough one."

The six-time Pro Bowler wants to stay in Minnesota despite the team’s 5-10-1 record in 2013.

"I try to stay in stride with what's going on and play my cards as they're dealt to me," he said. "I've always said I would love to finish here, with the Vikings, so I'll just stick with that."

[ESPN] [Sports Illustrated]