METAIRIE, La. -- Adrian Peterson has posted some remarkable numbers throughout his 10-year NFL career. But the latest one, which he said his wife actually pointed out to him the other day, might rank among the most startling:

According to NFLShop.com, Peterson's new New Orleans Saints jersey has been the No. 1 seller this summer -- in Minnesota.

Peterson, who spent the past decade with the Minnesota Vikings, brought that up Friday when asked if he has found himself looking forward to the Saints' season opener in Minneapolis. And he said it meant something to him.

"It shows that I was appreciated, which I knew. But that's just confirmation, so that was a nice little addition," Peterson said. "So the fan base there is still strong, so it'll be good to get back out there in front of them."

Peterson has made no secret this summer about the chip he has on his shoulder. He is determined to prove wrong all the doubters who are expecting a steep decline now that he is 32 years old and coming off a torn meniscus in his knee that forced him to miss 13 games last season.

He's also trying to prove the other 31 NFL teams wrong (including the Vikings) for passing on him before he signed a two-year contract with the Saints that includes only $3.5 million guaranteed.

But Peterson said it's not really anything new for him. When asked when he thinks was the last time that people were curious to see what he looks like, Peterson said, "I think it was after 2014, after I came back from the suspension."

"[People were saying], 'Oh, he lost it,' this, that and the other. And I had a pretty decent year coming back. So I'm kind of used to it," said Peterson, who played in only one game in 2014 when he was suspended under the NFL's personal conduct policy, then led the NFL with 1,485 rushing yards in 2015.

He also returned from a torn ACL in 2012 to run for 2,097 yards and win the league MVP award.

"To me, it is what it is, and I don't let people box me in," Peterson said. "I have my own way of thinking, and I've been doing it since I was young, and it's been pretty successful, so I just stay on the same path."

So far, Peterson has drawn rave reviews from teammates for how impressive and physically imposing he has looked this summer. But so far, he has only practiced in shorts without pads or live tackling.

That will change Saturday, when the Saints strap on the pads for the first time. And Peterson can't wait.

"I always say, 'You see the truth when you put the pads on.' So tomorrow's that first day," said Peterson, who said he is also looking forward to getting some payback against defensive players, who have been aggressive throughout the summer practices.

"It’ll be good to kind of fight back a little bit," Peterson said. "You're always at a disadvantage when you're going against the defense and you've got shells on. So I'm excited to put the pads on.

"And now, when I make my cuts and I enter into the hole, I'm not being timid because you don't want an AC joint or a shoulder [injury] or hurt anyone else. So I'm pretty pumped up about it."