The drama surrounding Adrian Peterson’s situation with the Minnesota Vikings may be on the verge of taking on an entirely new meaning.
Following a report this past weekend that the 30-year-old running back would not be taking part in the team’s OTAs this week, most people understood the power play from Peterson’s camp was real.
Now comes this piece from CBS Sports insider Jason La Canfora indicating that Peterson has told those close to him on multiple occasions that he’s thinking about retirement.
“…Some who have talked to Peterson with regularity since his trip to the Commissioner’s Exempt List, say he has ruminated on the possibility of retirement more than once, and has seemed less than enthusiastic about the prospect of playing professional football more than once.”
This could very well be a bluff from Peterson, who has absolutely no leverage against the Vikings in what appears to be continued issues over his contract—a contract that will pay him more than any other running back in the NFL this season.
Then again, Peterson may very well be on the verge of deciding a return to the football field is not in his best interest. He’s 30 years old and is coming off a 2014 campaign in which he played just one game. The veteran is also about as financially set as he can be right now.
By sitting out this week’s OTAs, Peterson could potentially forfeit a cool $250,000 in workout bonuses. If he were to skip mandatory minicamp and training camp, that number would increase substantially.
We will likely have a better idea of where Peterson stands when camp gets going later this summer. For now, this is likely nothing more than Peterson’s agent attempting to gain some leverage for his client.
Photo: USA Today Sports