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As the NFL season approaches, Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Joe Mixon will be taking advantage of a number of opportunities to improve his game and adjust to life in the NFL.
Mixon took part in the NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere last month and he also was a coach at Marvin Lewis’ youth football camp this week. Something else he’ll be doing leading up to the season is training with New Orleans Saints running back Adrian Peterson.
Peterson and Mixon were both star running backs for the Oklahoma Sooners, though, their time in Norman was separated by a decade. Mixon told ESPN he plans to spend at least two weeks training with the four time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler this summer.
"It'll be fun," Mixon said. "He's going to push me and I'll push him."
Learning from one of the best running backs in the NFL can only be a good thing for Mixon as he prepares for training camp and the preseason in Cincinnati. Mixon will actually be wearing the same number as Peterson in the NFL, after originally wearing No. 28 in high school, while growing up watching Peterson. Mixon wore No. 25 in college, but that number is currently occupied by Giovani Bernard.
Mixon says he plans to work on “certain points about the game” while training with Peterson.
Peterson is set to return this year after a 2016 season in which he only appeared in three games and missed the majority of the season due to a right lateral meniscus tear. On top of that, he’s leaving Minnesota behind and playing in New Orleans this year after 10 seasons with the Vikings. Regardless of the circumstances, Mixon is confident Peterson will bounce-back in his 11th NFL season.
"He always bounces back, from whatever, from anything," Mixon said. "I think he's going to have a breakout year again."
We can only hope Mixon’s NFL career is as successful as Peterson’s has been. Any football tips, tricks and advice the young Bengals rookie can pick up from an experienced pro like Peterson should be highly beneficial.