Disgruntled Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is attempting to clear the air over multiple reports that he is not participating in the team’s organized team activities because he’s looking for a trade.
Peterson released a statement to ESPN’s Josina Anderson addressing the recent reports.
“Statement to me from Adrian Peterson: ‘The reason I’m not attending OTAs has nothing to do with wanting to be traded. It’s about securing my future with the Vikings. It’s business, not personal and I understand that firsthand. Go Vikings.'”
AP’s statement follows comments from Vikings coach Mike Zimmer during a press conference Wednesday afternoon, where Zimmer said Peterson had two choices – to “play for us, or he can not play.”
So, per his statement to @JosinaAnderson, it appears @AdrianPeterson is skipping OTAs for contractual reasons. Deal has no guaranteed money.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) May 28, 2015
It’s also the first time Peterson has said publicly that he wants to return to Minnesota after his agent Ben Dogra claimed that staying with the Vikings was not in his client’s best interest.
Peterson is set to make $12.75 million this season and his contract runs through 2017. However, none of the remaining money on Peterson’s contract is guaranteed beyond this season, so it would be easy for the Vikings to move on.
According to Pro Football Talk, guaranteeing some of the remaining money would provide some security that AP says he’s looking for.
USA Today’s Tom Pellisero suggests the Vikings could make all of this go away by guaranteeing two years and $28 million of Peterson’s contract without giving the highest-paid running back in the game a raise.
The Vikings haven’t indicated a willingness to do that. Following similar comments from Peterson’s agent following the NFL Draft last month, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said only that the team doesn’t discuss player contracts with the public.
