The Facts: Peterson heads to New Orleans as an alternative to Mark Ingram, which is a role that led to 155 touches for Tim Hightower last season. The Saints aren't likely to use Peterson in precisely the same way that they used Hightower and they aren't detailing their plans for public consumption, but HC Sean Payton did suggest there's already a vision in place for how Peterson will be used. "I think the role will be very clear and defined," Payton said.
Diehards Line:
The coach continued, “It’s a tough, long 16-week season. I think that he’s someone that certainly will be able to complement Mark. Those guys are different in some ways, and yet we feel like we’ve added another quality player. It goes without saying, [Peterson is] a guy that eventually is going to be in the Hall of Fame. But I think -- we think -- that he’s got more years in his career, so we’re excited for that to happen.” One possible difference between how the two backs will be used could come in the passing game. Ingram has 96 catches over the last two seasons and it has never been a strong suit of Peterson’s game, so that should factor into that clear definition once the Saints are in position to share it with the league at large. Peterson is coming off an ineffective and injury-filled final season with the Vikings and lingered on the market for a couple of months before signing with the Saints on Tuesday.