Vikings faced with big distraction as Saints game approaches

Remember when weekly quarterback controversies were considered a big distraction?

That was so 2013.

Judging by the nine satellite trucks parked outside Winter Park, the 19 cameras inside, the live NFL Network news conference lead-in show and the absence of any reporter Wednesday who cared in the least about the Vikings game at New Orleans on Sunday, this is the mother of all distractions.

Welcome to NFL head coaching, Mike Zimmer.

And, oh yeah, how do you plan on keeping yourself, your coaches and your players focused on the Saints instead of the news that you've likely played your last game this season with Adrian Peterson, your best player and the foundation upon which your team and your salary cap has been built?

"I think the biggest thing is I've always considered myself a football coach," Zimmer said. "I am not a Speaker of the House or anything like that. What I do is I get in the film room, I start working on what we have to do, start figuring out how we can get this team better. … We have a job to do, and we get paid to do this. Quite honestly, it's what we love to do, so it's kind of our refuge anyway."

Two days after saying Peterson deserved to play while the legal process unfolded, the Vikings reversed course Wednesday and placed him on the Exempt/Commissioner's Permission list while he faces indictment on child abuse charges stemming from the injuries he caused while spanking his 4-year-old son with a tree branch.

Defensive end Everson Griffen was asked if it's a relief for players to have the team's decision on Peterson behind them.

"It's always going to be a distraction," Griffen said. "The best running back in the NFL, he's not with us. But at the same time, we've got to be professionals about it and go out there and execute our assignment and play the style of ball we know how. … Like they always say, the ship is gonna keep on sailing."

Left in Peterson's absence are three inexperienced backs — Matt Asiata, Jerick McKinnon and Joe Banyard — with a combined 65 career carries. The team also has an open roster spot that it could use on another running back.

"I think that these guys have a lot of ability," Zimmer said. "Jerick McKinnon, I'm excited to see him get out there. Joe Banyard had a very good preseason.

"So many times in the NFL, when injuries happen or things happen, guys go out and they perform and they have a chance to make a great career for themselves.

''It happens every week with somebody because of the number of injuries and things like that."