ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that the Dallas Cowboys attempting to trade for Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson remains a possibility.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, just last week, said the team wants Peterson in a Vikings jersey next year; and they’re standing firm on that issue.
Peterson is due to make $12.75 million next season, and if the Cowboys weren’t willing to pay last year’s rushing champion, DeMarco Murray, more than $8 million/season, then how could they possibly afford Peterson?
Werder says Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t want to overpay for Murray just in case a trade window for a player like Peterson opened. So saving money by letting Murray sign with the Eagles was an opportunity to maintain the financial flexibility needed to acquire Peterson.
Werder added that Dallas could save $8 million by restructuring quarterback Tony Romo’s contract.
Meanwhile, 105.3 FM in Dallas on Monday reported that the Cowboys are not planning to pursue a trade for Peterson for two reasons:
- Discipline to the amount they spend on running backs
- The upcoming NFL Draft is loaded with running backs
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, in an interview with FOX Sports Live, echoed that report.
https://twitter.com/FOXSportsLive/status/582577530156150784
“He’s obviously a member of the Minnesota Vikings,” Garrett said. “And we wish him all the best coming back from the situation that he’s been in so we can kind of get his career back on track and his life back on track. We’re focused on the guys that we have.”
Keep in mind that NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport has said for quite some time that the Peterson saga is far from over, and if a trade were to happen, it probably wouldn’t happen until the week of the NFL Draft (April 30).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByDOtH1YIms
