The door remains wide open for Adrian Peterson to remain with the Minnesota Vikings.
That was the message from Vikings general manager Rick Spielman during a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday.
The Vikings said this week they would not pick up Peterson’s $18 million option for the 2017 season, meaning that Peterson is able to test the free agent market for the first time in his career.
But that doesn’t mean the Vikings don’t want Peterson back. In fact, Spielman said he’d be very open to re-signing Peterson if the Vikings have the money to do it.
Rick Spielman reiterates he wants to sign Adrian Peterson back but doesn't know how financial pieces will fit together.
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) March 1, 2017
“I talked to Adrian, I was very specific with him, I talked to his representative as well,” said Spielman Wednesday. “I told him there are some areas we’d like to address and the one thing we can’t predict is how the market is going to be.”
Peterson also said yesterday that the door was open for the two sides to find some common ground.
At 32, and after missing most of last season, it’s not easy to say what the market will be for Peterson. A few years ago – before Ezekiel Elliot – Peterson would have been a great fit with the Dallas Cowboys, but it’s not that simple anymore.
Sports Illustrated took a look at six places where Peterson may fit in:
- New York Giants
- Green Bay Packers
- New England Patriots
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Jets
- Oakland Raiders
According to USA Today, the Giants plan to take a look at Peterson, who started marketing himself to other teams with his workout video Wednesday.
But you never know. He may get on the open market and realize the grass or the money isn’t greener on the other side of the fence.
