If they hadn’t been already, the wheels about a possible trade sending Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to the Dallas Cowboys are definitely churning now.
A day after reports surfaced that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was interested in acquiring Peterson, it appears that Dallas has made a salary cap move that could allow for the deal to happen.
Pro Football Talk reports the Cowboys have restructured Tony Romo’s contract creating $12.8 million in salary cap space this year.
“A source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that it wasn’t a negotiated restructuring, but an automatic conversion of $16 million of Romo’s base salary to a signing bonus. His salary for 2015 becomes $1 million.”
While the move gives the Cowboys more space this year, it tacks on another $3.2 million worth of cap charges for each of the remaining years of Romo’s extension, and it gives Dallas just enough space to swing a deal for Peterson, who coincidentally is scheduled to make $12.75 million with the Vikings this year.
Tony Romo's restructured deal leaves hope for Adrian Peterson per @TheBuzzerOnFOX – http://t.co/XVhqmhHmBX pic.twitter.com/htNyEMEg6Z
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 1, 2015
Yahoo Sports’ Shutdown Corner notes that the move comes at a curious time after most of the top free agents, including their own running back DeMarco Murray, have landed new homes.
So could Dallas be using their new cap space to try to swing a deal for Peterson? PFT’s Mike Florio takes a look at that very issue.
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The Vikings have insisted for weeks they have no intention of trading Peterson, despite growing signs from AP’s camp that he wants out of Minnesota.
How it all plays out at this point is anyone’s guess, but if the Vikings plan to make a deal, the clock is ticking. The NFL Draft is less than a month away.
