NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that the Minnesota Vikings are strongly set against trading running back Adrian Peterson, so much so that it would potentially take too much for another team to acquire him.
Should be noted: #Vikings have said publicly & privately, he plays for them or no one. Would take a lot to tempt them. Maybe too much.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2015
Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson echoed this sentiment on Sunday, saying that Peterson’s situation is complicated by Vikings’ general manager Rick Spielman’s insistence that Peterson play nowhere except in Minnesota this year. Though six teams were reported interested in trading for Peterson as recently as a week ago, Spielman’s hard-line stance and high demands has already scared off at least one team.
Robinson reports that the Dallas Cowboys have backed off of their interest in Peterson. He also reports that the Arizona Cardinals still have interest—and that it is mutual between the team and Peterson—but that their offer of a second-round pick in this year’s draft was not strong enough to warrant the Vikings’ consideration.
Indeed, Robinson cites Spielman as the reason for all of this, saying “Spielman is the guy whose feet are in cement on this issue. He wants Peterson in a Vikings uniform next season, and it’s going to take a sledgehammer to remove him from that spot.”
There has been some bad blood between Peterson’s camp, particularly his agent Ben Dogra and his father, and the Vikings, though Peterson has not publicly spoken about the team. Peterson spent all but Week 1 of the 2014 season on the Commissioner’s Exempt List after allegations of child abuse surfaced. Peterson agreed to a plea deal in November that resulted in his charges being dropped but has remained in career limbo since, remaining on the Exempt List until earlier this month.
While he is 30 years old and boasts a lofty contract, Peterson has long been the Vikings best player. It’s understandable why Spielman would want such a player back on the field for the team he’s contracted to play for. A trade could still come, but as the draft rapidly approaches, interested teams are finally getting the hint: Either pay the high price asked for in a trade or look elsewhere for a running back.
Photo: USA Today Sports