His suspension is over and the NFL Draft has come and gone so it seems almost inevitable that Adrian Peterson will be returning to the Minnesota Vikings.
The question is when?
It’s not abnormal for Peterson to skip the Vikings voluntary workout programs, however with the pressure for a trade from Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra, during the offseason, the lack of a renegotiated contract from the Vikings and the specter of last season’s nearly year-long suspension still hanging like a dark cloud over the team – it doesn’t exactly feel like business as usual either.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told 1500 ESPN this week that he thinks he has an idea when AP might return to Minnesota, but he wasn’t going to share that information.
“I think I do have an indication,” Zimmer told the radio station, noting that he’s not exactly sure on the date. “It’s up to Adrian, really. He’s the guy you should ask… We’d like all our players here. It’s the voluntary time of year right now and it’s his decision in what he wants to do.”
Peterson’s contract has been a point of contention. After trying to convince the Vikings to trade the 2012 NFL MVP, Dogra told USA Today after the first round of the draft that he accepts the Vikings’ desire to keep Peterson, but then challenged the team to show a commitment to him.
Peterson has three-years and $45 million left on his contract, but none of the money is guaranteed. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman hasn’t said if the team is willing to re-work the 30-year-old running back’s contract.
According to ESPN’s Ben Goessling, Peterson’s $250,000 workout bonus is reportedly tied to his attendance at Organized Team Activities that begin on Tuesday.
“From what I’ve been told, Peterson’s bonus requires him to participate in 90 percent of the Vikings organized team activities (so essentially, he can miss one), as well as the Vikings mandatory minicamp.”
If he no-shows for that, the next dates of significance would be the team’s mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 16-18. According to Goessling, any player that doesn’t participate in those three practices could be fined more than $70,000.
