Peterson expects warm greeting from Vikings fans at opener

Adrian Peterson earned seven Pro Bowl selections, three rushing titles, and an MVP award during his tenure with the Minnesota Vikings.

As such, Peterson, who signed with the New Orleans Saints after being released by his former club, is expecting a hero's greeting during Monday's opener.

Peterson inked a two-year, $7-million deal with the Saints in April after the Vikings did not exercise their option on his contract in February,

"I think it'll be a warm welcome," Peterson said via NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman. "I don't see why it'd be any other way. Ten years played there. A lot of good memories there and being the face of the franchise for so long, giving them everything I've got. I don't think it took a rocket scientist to see when I was on the field, I was giving max effort with everything I did."

Peterson also braced at the suggestion that he's no longer an elite running back, with his track record likely indicating a future Hall of Fame berth.

"It's just always crazy sitting back and seeing how, just because, you know, I'm 32 now, people say, 'Oh, well, he's losing it because this back or that back lost it around that time,'" Peterson said via The Associated Press. "But you erase the (2015) season when I came back after sitting out for a year and led the league in rushing."

Peterson will be splitting carries alongside Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara as he looks to revitalize his dominant career that's been hindered by injuries, most recently a torn meniscus suffered early in the 2016 campaign.

The 32-year-old holds several Vikings records and is arguably the most prolific running back of his generation, so it comes as little surprise that Peterson anticipates a generous reception come Monday night, even though he's playing for the opposition.