Peterson on HGH: 'I'm clean as a whistle'

MANKATO -- I asked Adrian Peterson for his thoughts about NFL players having to give a blood sample for an upcoming study that will be part of the process as the league and its union formulates the parameters for HGH testing.

His response was a heck of a lot stronger than anyone probably expected. Here's what he had to say:

"I like it. I love it. To be honest with you, I've been hoping that they did this a long time ago. To even out the playing field and make guys be honest and true to themselves. So I can't wait till they draw my blood."

Asked what kind of impact HGH testing will have on the league, the reigning NFL MVP said:

"I think it will have a big impact. It will bring a lot of people to light. It will clear a lot of people on the outside of their curiosity about different players. I'm all in for it. I don't worry about those types of supplements, using those because I'm all natural. I work hard. So to have a test for me personally, everybody will know I'm clean as a whistle. Other guys as well. And, like I said, it will bring some guys to the forefront and be like, hey, I guess this is how this guy has been performing so well."

Peterson also said he's well aware of the accusations circulating from critics who say Peterson's remarkable recover last year was the result of performance enhancing drugs.

"I've heard it," he said. "I seen a Twitter page and it was HGHPeterson. It was funny. But, yeah, it will be cool once the test comes out. To me, I take it as a compliment when I hear people say thing like that. It shows how blessed I am. It will definitely clear a lot of stuff up.

"People have [accused me of taking HGH]. But it is what it is. It's part of life. People are going to think one thing or another no matter what you tell them. I really don't listen to it. I let them have their opinion. I really don't care, to be honest because I'm true to myself and I know that I have a lot of respect for this game and the guys that came before me and did it the right way. That's what I'm all about."

Peterson believes there are many players in the league who do use HGH.

"You got HGH, something that doesn't show up on a test, and you guys out there trying to provide for their families," he said. "They're going to try and get that edge and that advantage, especially if they're not worried about getting caught."