It seems like every day there is a new twist or turn in the Adrian Peterson saga and Tuesday was no exception.
According to Yahoo Sports, a source inside Peterson’s circle says the exiled running back has entertained returning to the Vikings, but would also consider reworking his contract to facilitate a trade.
Peterson is under contract with the Vikings through 2017 and is due to make $12.75 million next season, and all indications have been that Minnesota would like the 2012 MVP to return in 2015.
With the NFL’s free agency period and a possible reinstatement of Peterson looming, Wednesday could prove to be key in determining Peterson’s future.
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According to USA Today, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman are expected to fly to Houston to meet with Peterson on Wednesday.
While the Vikings will determine whether to keep or trade Peterson, the running back is scheduled to count $15 million against the salary cap next season. So his willingness to restructure his deal could give him some leverage, especially if the Vikings decide to move him.
The Yahoo Sports report notes that if Peterson were dealt, he would prefer to go to one of five teams: Arizona, Indianapolis, Dallas, San Diego or Tampa Bay.
According to The Daily Norseman, should the Vikings decide to trade Peterson they should get good value for him. The report notes that considering Dallas, Indianapolis and Arizona all have a Super Bowl window and are – or could be – in need of a running back, a “bidding war might break out.”
“Indianapolis has already traded a first round pick for a running back, and that blew up in their face. They can look at a Peterson trade as the missing ingredient that will get them over the hump. In Dallas, they put it all together thanks to an offense that centered around Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray. With Murray testing free agency, there’s a chance that he might leave, and there wouldn’t be a better player to bring in to replace Murray with than Peterson. With the Cardinals, they had issues at quarterback after Carson Palmer got hurt, but let’s face it, a mostly anemic running game did as much to hurt them after Palmer got hurt as Ryan Lindley did.”
