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Adrian Peterson stood among his peers at NFL Honors in February, turning and waving to acknowledge the cheering crowd.

Up to that point, Peterson had accomplished nearly everything a professional football player could accomplish; he was a seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro and the league's most valuable player in 2012. He was a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade team and a finalist for the NFL 100 All-Time team.

Whenever Peterson decides to conclude his illustrious career, he'll be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.

But on that day in Miami, Peterson accepted an honor that did not have to do with how many yards he rushed for or how many touchdowns he scored.

He became the sixth recipient of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship award, given annually to the player "who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.”

It was Peterson's combination of productivity and personality that made him so beloved in Washington the past two years. He was durable, reliable and consistent -- all while serving as a role model for his younger teammates and a leader in the locker room.

Peterson, who was released Friday, will go down as one of the greatest running backs of all time, yet he displayed the work ethic of an unproven rookie and the humbleness of just another player trying to help his team win. He's handled every situation with integrity and represented the franchise in the best possible way.

To Peterson, life is all about inspiring and uplifting others, and that's been his main objective throughout his 14-year NFL career. He certainly made his presence felt with Washington.

In Washington's game against Tennessee on Dec. 22, 2018, Peterson took his first carry of the fourth quarter and barreled downfield for a five-yard gain. The play itself was insignificant, but within the greater context, it was historic.

With that rush, Peterson became the oldest 1,000-yard rusher in 34 years.

For Peterson to achieve this milestone was remarkable, as he spent the previous two seasons with three different teams and rushed for a combined 601 yards. Fewer than three weeks before the 2018 campaign, Peterson was still a free agent. It was not until Washington lost its top running back in the preseason that it signed Peterson to a one-year deal.

In the regular season opener, Peterson carried the ball 26 times for 96 yards and a touchdown. Two weeks later, he eclipsed the 100-yard mark and found the end zone twice.

Peterson ended up rushing for at least 96 yards on seven occasions and even scored a 90-yard rushing touchdown -- the longest in his career and the longest in franchise history.

Peterson's performance in Week 15 of the 2019 season versus Philadelphia did not look like anything special. He finished the game with 66 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and his last positive play of the game resulted in a one-yard gain.

But Washington's game on a brisk December afternoon was a historic moment for Peterson. His one-yard gain pushed him past Curtis Martin for fifth all-time in career rushing yards; his 10-yard touchdown tied him with Walter Payton for fourth all-time in rushing touchdowns; and his 16 carries made him just the 10th running back in NFL history to reach 3,000 career rushing attempts.

It was a momentous occurrence for Peterson, who placed himself among the league's greatest running backs in three categories during one game. But the then 34-year-old Peterson had made such accomplishments almost commonplace in his 13th season by either tying or passing multiple Hall of Fame running backs in the record books.

Practice had just ended during Washington's training camp in August, and Peterson was in the middle of a conversation with Geron Christian Sr. on his blocking technique.

Peterson had taken an interest in Christian's progress entering his third season. Christian worked out with Peterson over the offseason, and he always appreciated any advice he could get from the veteran.

"He's been around a lot of great tackles, a lot of great linemen," Christian said, "and he's just been doing it for a long time."

Peterson's affect on Washington went beyond what he did on the field. He was a mentor for younger players who needed advice and a guiding voice for those who wanted to have a long professional career. That kind of contribution was invaluable to players and coaches alike.

"In those situations, you need somebody to step up," said head coach Ron Rivera. "I did reference Adrian because he is a pro. Hopefully our young players took that to heart."

Count Antonio Gibson, who had been excited to meet Peterson since he was drafted, as one of those players. He grew up watching Peterson and remembers being in awe of what he accomplished on the field. Once Gibson joined the same team as one of his idols, he planned on taking every opportunity to learn from him.

"I know he knows so much being in the game that long," Gibson said. "I know he's got a lot to teach, and I'm willing to ask him for it."