The owners of the Minnesota Vikings Wednesday stated publicly for the first time since Adrian Peterson’s suspension that they’d like to see Peterson return to the team.
While speaking to reporters following the unveiling of the Wilf Family Center at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Vikings owner Mark Wilf said they would like to have Peterson back.
“Adrian has done a lot of good in this community. He’s done a lot of good on the football field as well, and of course, he’s a Minnesota Viking and we’d love to have him back. Of course a lot depends on the NFL and the steps he’s making on his own personal journey, but that’s where we’re at with it.”
The comments from Wilf are really the first made by ownership since Peterson was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List early in the season, but several players and even Vikings coach Mike Zimmer have expressed a desire to welcome Peterson back.
Peterson can apply for reinstatement into the league on April 15th after he missed all of 2014 except the season opener. He spent much of the season on the exempt list before Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for the final three games.
It’s possible Peterson could be reinstated sooner if the NFL Players Association lawsuit against the league on Peterson’s behalf succeeds. U.S. District Judge David Doty heard arguments on the case last week. He took the matter under advisement, but no timetable has been set for a ruling.
Following that hearing, Peterson told reporters “of course” when asked if he wanted to return to the Vikings.
Reports surfaced Tuesday that Peterson has been undergoing counseling in Minnesota in an effort to maintain joint custody of his 4-year-old son and be reinstated into the league.
