The fans still hold Adrian Peterson in high regard … but not as high as they did before September, 2014. His agent’s antics along with a steady drip of news through a few key media folks and rumours possibly originating with his family and friends are slowly corroding that public support. I think he’s probably still got more supporters than detractors among the Vikings fanbase, but it looks like he’s losing (or has already lost) the benefit of the doubt from the local Minneapolis-St. Paul media. For example, here’s Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan’s latest:

Since arriving in Minnesota in 2007, Peterson has become one of the great running backs in recent NFL history. When we considered him a rare athlete of rare work ethic and ambition, his foibles were easy to overlook.

Occasional displays of arrogance? Part of the makeup of an elite athlete.

Driving ridiculous speeds through local neighborhoods? Fast cars suit fast men.

Bearing many children out of wedlock? Not good, not responsible, but not unusual for someone with his lifestyle.

Riding a camel at an Arabian-themed 30th birthday party?

Adrian has ridden the camel. Now he’s no longer a wacky celebrity. He’s a caricature. He can no longer be taken seriously. There are starving cartoonists at theme parks who would refuse to draw a person wearing a turban on a camel.

As of August, Peterson looked primed for a big year. Then news broke that he had whipped a child with a branch, whipped him so badly the child bled from large, open wounds. Whipped him in the genitalia, which Peterson seemed to think was funny.

Since then, Peterson has indicated that his charms are fewer than we had liked to previously believe, and that his worldview, if he has one, lacks realism.

At 1500ESPN, Phil Mackey conjures up the apology that Peterson seems to feel he’s entitled to:

Adrian,

I want to apologize, on behalf of the Vikings, for paying you millions of dollars to carry the ball 21 times in 2014. That St. Louis Rams defense was ferocious.

I want to apologize, on behalf of the Vikings, for holding a press conference, just hours after your indictment, defending your honor. Even though this press conference made the franchise look extremely foolish under a national spotlight — subsequently infuriating fans, media, the NFL and Radisson Hotels — I apologize.

I want to apologize, on behalf of the Vikings, for Matt Asiata and his 3.5 yards per carry. I know how frustrating that must have been for you to watch from afar.

I want to apologize, on behalf of the Vikings, for ignoring the itch to restructure your contract and instead offering to pay your 2015 salary of $12+ million in full — and $15 million toward the salary cap — despite the non-guaranteed nature of said contract, your age (30) at a volatile position and your injury history.

I also want to apologize, Adrian, on behalf of the Vikings, for offering this chance at redemption — a chance to play for the Vikings again in 2015 despite all that transpired. Most of the fans, media and people in the organization believed a second chance was warranted in this situation, but clearly that was a misread.

And finally, I want to apologize on behalf of the state of Minnesota, which callously charged you with injuring a child via a switch in the first place. If we had all just looked the other way, everything would be cool, right?

Wait, what? Oh, it was Texas that charged Peterson, not Minnesota?

OK, then I apologize on behalf of the state of Texas.

Well, you get the idea, Adrian. I, on behalf of the Vikings, feel horrible about all of our missteps over the past few months.

Hopefully you can forgive us.

Judd Zulgad points out that Peterson is nearly as good at alienating his supporters as he is on the football field:

Peterson still has three years and $45 million left on his contract but none of that money is guaranteed. Whether this is about how Peterson feels about the Vikings, or his financial situation, he is doing an outstanding job of trying to turn even his biggest supporters against him.

The guy just turned 30 years old on Saturday — the age at which so many running backs go off the cliff — and he wants to be rewarded with another “face of the franchise” payday instead of accepting the fact he needs to prove he remains elite. And if Peterson doesn’t realize that Teddy Bridgewater soon will be the face of this franchise, someone should inform him.

If the Vikings really want Peterson back, why doesn’t he quietly return to the field, take the $12.75 million he’s due for 2015 and be thankful he can play the sport he loves?

This would be the logical approach for a guy who missed a season after creating this situation by injuring one of his children.

Instead, Peterson is doing his best to make the Vikings look like the good guys. The Vikings did nothing wrong to Peterson and yet he feels he was betrayed by some at Winter Park.

There was a time when one figured the Vikings would be criticized if they traded Peterson, or didn’t get a big return for him, but much of the Minnesota fan base appears to be losing patience with him.

Peterson was once a Superman in Purple. A player who was to be featured on the Vikings’ new stadium and have his number retired almost immediately after he stopped playing.

These days, however, Peterson’s only goal seems to be making himself persona non grata in Minnesota. Sadly, he’s doing an excellent job of it.