Reuters

Adrian Peterson’s return from a traumatic knee injury last year was so impressive, that some thought it was too good to be true.

The Vikings running back told Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com that one of his opponents wondered aloud if he was using performance enhancing substances during a game last season.

Peterson said a Lions linebacker asked him “Whatever you were juicing on, let me know. I need it.”

He replied: “Man, it’s a lot of prayer. The juice of God.”

Peterson thought about the exchange, and when the two teams met the second time, he told the guy he actually appreciated it.

It’s worth noting that after the Lions held him to 102 yards in the first meeting, he went for 171 in the second.

“It was like turning a negative into a positive,” Peterson said. “To be honest with you, it makes me feel good when people say little stuff like that, and I’m sure it happens all the time. I guess I am performing that well that people think I’m juicing, that I am taking something. That really shows me how much God has blessed me to be able to come back and play the way I played.

“To me, it’s a compliment [the PED talk]. I’ve always been an honest person. I never cheated the system. I am big on taking advantage of my natural abilities and applying work ethic to it to be able to climb the highest level. People make that decision to do that [PEDS], but I’m not that individual. I feel like I’d be cheating myself. And things I’ve accomplished would be void. That’s not what I am about.”

Peterson’s accomplishments last year were remarkable, and it’s probably natural that some would be skeptical — especially the ones who couldn’t catch him.