The Minnesota Vikings do not expect running back Adrian Peterson to be playing anywhere else other than in Minnesota according to general manager Rick Spielman.
Spielman, who spoke with reporters Wednesday morning, had this to say.
We expect Adrian Peterson to be part of our football team.
Peterson was suspended by the NFL on November 18 after pleading no contest on what the NFL called “an incident of abusive discipline” against his four-year-old son. Peterson is now scheduled to be reinstated on April 15. Declining to talk about Peterson’s looming contract situation, Spielman had this to say.
We’re assuming he’s taken all those steps to require to get him back on the field but we can’t have communication with him.
Although Spielman remains optimistic, without hearing from Peterson directly, his future with the Vikings remains in question. Whether Peterson even wants to stay in Minnesota is a major factor at this time. Additionally, Peterson’s salary, which Spielman did not wish to discuss, would count for $15.4 million against the Vikings total salary cap for 2015. Peterson has previously stated that he has no intentions of taking a pay cut if he returns.
In his seven-plus seasons in the NFL, the three-time All-Pro has accumulated 10,190 yards and has maintained an impressive average of 5.0 yards per carry of his career. We will have to see what unfolds over the next couple of months while we wait for Peterson’s official reinstatement to occur. He also recently filed a lawsuit in federal court in order to force the NFL to reinstate him immediately. If Peterson and the NFLPA win that case, we should have a resolution quicker than originally thought.
Photo: rantsports.com
