Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
NewsCut
Bob Collins

One man’s decency

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Despite the coverage of his on-field performance, Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings may still be one of the best-kept secrets in Minnesota sports in one area: pure decency.

Blake Cognata of Fairport, NY (near Rochester) is a very ill high school senior. The cancer he thought he had licked has spread through the rest of his body. He's in the hospital and it doesn't look good.

Peterson is Cognata's favorite player, and one of his friends took to Twitter with the hashtag #APCallBlake, to try to get word to Peterson about young Blake.

What do you guys say if we try to get @adrianpeterson to send some love to @blakecognata ? #APCallBlake

— Dylan George (@D_George4) January 7, 2013

It took only 90 minutes before Peterson was on the phone.

"It was on his heart and he just felt he had to do it," Chris Brown, Peterson's assistant, said in an interview with a local newspaper. "If a conversation can bring a little bit of joy, it's the least Adrian can do."

Thank you @adrianpeterson. You are a truly a great man, and everyone in my community appreciates what you did. And I know Blake did as well

— Dylan George (@D_George4) January 8, 2013

"He was awestruck," his mother said. "We couldn't get him to sleep until 1 a.m. He just kept saying, 'I can't believe it.'"