Detroit Lions operating again Adrian Peterson first heard his outdated pal, Everson Griffen, is perhaps on the transfer in a textual content message from his father.

“My dad lives in Dallas,” Peterson mentioned Thursday. “(He mentioned) you guys would possibly must convey him in, so it’s ironic that it ended up figuring out that method.”

Peterson and Griffen had been “like this,” Peterson mentioned, crossing his fingers, throughout their enjoying days with the Minnesota Vikings, and much more ironic is their first sport collectively will come subsequent week in Minnesota in opposition to their former workforce.

The Lions traded a conditional 2021 draft decide to the Dallas Cowboys for Griffen on Tuesday, however the defensive finish must go COVID-19 checks on 5 consecutive days earlier than he’s allowed to affix his new workforce.

[ Here’s what Everson Griffen brings to Detroit Lions’ defense ]

He will not play Sunday in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, however is anticipated to make his first look contained in the Lions’ Allen Park observe facility Monday.

“I used to be excited,” Peterson mentioned. “Deliver again some outdated recollections and it’s going to be good to have him within the constructing simply because the power, his complete vibe. He’s a heck of a participant as effectively.”

Griffen had 2.5 sacks in seven video games with the Dallas Cowboys this season, and has 77 in his 11-year profession. He and Peterson performed seven seasons collectively, and Peterson informed an extended story Thursday about how they used to have no less than one pleasant, generally too-competitive, wrestling match in coaching camp yearly.

One of many matches practically spilled right into a desk of Chinese language meals the Vikings offered for gamers after one Friday observe.

“I rushed him, and I ended up stopping him as a result of I used to be (about) to run him into all of the meals, which now once I give it some thought, I’m like I ought to have simply sacrificed the meals as a result of once I eased up, he got here full energy forward and simply, bam, slammed me into the bottom,” Peterson mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘Bro, you misplaced, you seen that I gave up.’ Like, ‘Why did you reap the benefits of me like that.’ (He was) like, ‘No, no, no, I had you. I had you.’ So we sort of went forwards and backwards about that for slightly bit, however that was simply one among many tales I can share with you.”

In Detroit, the 2 are hoping to write down extra tales collectively, beginning with a win over their outdated workforce subsequent week.

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Peterson, who had the most efficient 10 seasons of his profession in Minnesota, mentioned he has not began eager about that sport but and is concentrated for now on the Colts.

“It’s humorous how issues work out,” Peterson mentioned. “Who would have thought that we’d meet once more enjoying for the Detroit Lions and the primary time we’re really going to play collectively might be in opposition to the Vikings? So it’s sort of cool. It’s humorous how issues sort of come full circle trigger Everson was, once I was in Minnesota, we had been like (extraordinarily tight). So it’s good to have him right here and to be part of what we have now occurring.”

‘All concerning the ball’

The Lions are one among 4 NFL groups but to lose a fumble this season, a statistic that Lions coach Matt Patricia playfully mentioned he was not completely happy to listen to when a reporter introduced it to his consideration this week.

“Yeah, arrange for failure with that query,” Patricia mentioned. “I respect that quite a bit. Little bit superstitious there, so thanks.”

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford palms the ball off to Lions operating again Adrian Peterson in opposition to the Falcons through the first half on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta.

Extra

Simply two groups, the Inexperienced Bay Packers (two) and Tennessee Titans (three) have dedicated fewer complete turnovers than the Lions’ 4 this season, although Sunday’s opponent, the Colts, ranks among the many greatest within the league with 10 takeaways (all interceptions.

“Actually, I simply assume the blokes do an amazing job with simply fundamentals,” Patricia mentioned. “I feel that could be a massive a part of our educating of fundamentals. From Day 1, we speak about these issues. The No. 1 elementary is ball safety, and clearly making an attempt to show the ball over after we get these alternatives. We obtained slightly little bit of a saying, it’s referred to as, ‘It’s all concerning the ball.’ And that’s the reality. We obtained to be all concerning the ball and make it possible for we’re going an amazing job defending it throughout.”

Story continues

Peterson, who’s handled fumble issues at varied factors in his profession, credited the Lions’ defensive emphasis on takeaways as one motive for the offense’s success defending the ball.

“I feel the protection, they do an amazing job of throughout observe, punching on the ball,” he mentioned. “Even when the whistles blow. Generally that clearly makes us talent gamers upset, since you’re operating again to the huddle and also you’ve obtained guys punching on the ball. However you possibly can see how going by way of that and having to take care of that has transferred to the sector. It’s one thing that we’ve simply been specializing in and we’re simply going to proceed to safe the ball.”

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Observe him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This text initially appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions’ Adrian Peterson pumped to reunite with Everson Griffen