NFL roundup: Adrian Peterson ahead of schedule in return

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has missed nearly the entire NFL season, but he just may be back for the Vikings playoff push.

The Minnesota Vikings got off to a hot start to the 2016 NFL season, as they were the final team remaining with a perfect record. However, they have looked really bad as of late, though there is reason to be very excited if you are a Vikings fan. Star running back Adrian Peterson appears ahead of schedule in his return from surgery for a torn meniscus back in September, and could be back before his original timetable of December.

Staying in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys have been the best team in football this season, riding two star rookies to a 10-1 record. On Thursday night, they can actually clinch a playoff spot if they take care of business against the Minnesota Vikings. There was plenty of worry in Cowboys land when Tony Romo broke his back in the preseason, but Dak Prescott has come in and taken the job from him permanently.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently on the outside looking in at the playoffs, though that could easily change from week to week. They currently have the same record as division-leading Baltimore, but it has been the celebrating of Antonio Brown that has gotten the press this week. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said on his weekly radio show that Brown needs to stop with the antics, because it is starting to hurt the team. No doubt Brown will listen to his quarterback, who is the unquestioned leader of the team.

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is back in the headlines, and once again, it is for the wrong reasons. Johnny Football, who once showed so much promise, is being sued by a bartender who said that the former Heisman Trophy winner broke his nose. The incident happened back on September 6, and allegedly Manziel was upset that the bartender would not make him drinks. The bartender is suing Manziel for $1 million.

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The disgusting saga that is Darren Sharper came to a close on Tuesday, as a judge ordered him to spend the next 20 years in prison. The former Super Bowl champion admitted to drugging and raping women across four states, and as part of his deal, he will be eligible for parole in eight years. Sharper was working as an analyst for the NFL Network when the allegations began, and eventually justice was served. Quite a fall from grace for the once-popular safety who had a borderline Hall of Fame career during his 14-year career.