Courtesy Adrian-Peterson.com

The top running back prospect in the 2007 NFL draft and one of the top five players overall, Adrian Peterson, may drop out of the top ten.

Recent reports indicate that Peterson, who missed much of the 2006 college football season with a broken collarbone, may need surgery, which could cause him to miss all of mini-camp and a large portion of preseason.

An NFL team, banking on Peterson to be its feature running back, might now be reluctant to count on a rookie who can't practice much before the real hitting begins in September.

So, we have to wonder just how much this information, or disinformation, depending on individual GMs' opinions, will affect Adrian Peterson on draft day.

Some rumors have Peterson going to the Cleveland Browns at number three overall, while others have him dropping much lower.

Although most NFL sources say Peterson is simply too good to drop out of the top ten, those with high selections will certainly have to take a moment of pause, if Peterson tumbles to them at number ten or below. Especially considering some of the talented, healthy players, like Marshawn Lynch, who will be available much later in the draft.

On the other hand, Peterson claims he's fine and has no ill-effects from the injured collarbone, which he re-injured in the Fiesta Bowl in January, muddling what will be a difficult decision for many teams.

NFL GMs must ask themselves whether they believe reports from various sources about the extent of Peterson's injury, forcing them to pass on a player who has been compared favorably to Marshall Faulk; or do they believe Peterson and select him, risking a high draft pick and millions of dollars on a player who might turn out to be the next Lee Suggs?

It's issues like this one that shorten the lives of NFL owners and GMs and make the NFL draft so much fun for football fans.