Vikings RB Adrian Peterson: NFL rules designed to 'baby' quarterbacks

Minnesota back Adrian Peterson has 851 yards and nine rushing touchdowns this season. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson thinks the NFL's rules protect quarterbacks too much and said he doesn't think his team needs a new quarterback despite its struggles this season.

Peterson is referring to the hit that San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks put on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in Sunday's loss to the Saints. Brooks was flagged on the play and now the NFL is reviewing the play to see if Brooks will receive punishment for the hit.

"You think about Drew Brees and the hit he took (against the 49ers). I love Drew Brees. He's one of my favorite guys to watch, but that hit he took wasn't a penalty," Peterson said to FoxSports.com. "So they kind of baby the quarterbacks, but the running back, we're like every other player. We get hit, and that's what it is."

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Peterson was also asked which of Minnesota's quarterbacks - Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, Josh Freeman - gives it the best chance to win.

"I would say Christian because he's been in our system the longest. He's able to go out there and run our system with the knowledge he has of it and the talent with what he's been able to do," he said.