The Minnesota Vikings want Adrian Peterson back for 2015, but the running back could be posturing to get a new contract, as reports have Peterson wanting a trade or considering retirement over coming back to the Vikings this offseason and this comes as head coach Mike Zimmer said that he expects Peterson to return to the team for training camp over a contract holdout.
Peterson's agent Ben Dogra has been pointed in his comments this offseason and now he could be pushing for a holdout. According to Jason Cole at Bleacher Report, Dogra has hinted that Peterson will hold out and this is likely due to Dogra wanting a new contract extension for his client. Peterson is making $12.75 million this season, but Dogra said last week he wants the Vikings to make a "commitment" to Peterson moving forward.
According to CBS Sports, Peterson could use retirement as a threat against the Vikings if he is not pleased with his current situation. Peterson reportedly considered leaving football after he was placed on the exempt list last season and that process is one thing that has been making him unhappy. Peterson was later suspended but that overturned on appeal. The CBS Sports report says that the retirement is likely not a realistic option, but that Peterson and his agent will use whatever leverage they have on the Vikings.
Most of this could be just posturing, but Peterson could sit out or try to force a trade again after reports came up earlier in the season that he wanted to be traded. According to Yahoo Sports, Charles Robinson writes that Peterson "still wants out" of Minnesota and could consider a hold out in training camp. Peterson has a $250,000 workout bonus coming his way and that also could affect his decision making process. Dogra has made strong comments this offseason about Peterson and while he recently softened his stance, he said that the Vikings should make Peterson "retire a Viking" with a new deal.
Peterson comes in with a $15 million cap hit and over $40 million coming his way over the next three seasons, but like all NFL contracts, it could be torn up at any time. Peterson and his agent likely want more guaranteed money and Peterson may want to use his unhappiness as leverage, as he was reportedly hoping to play last season while working his legal case through the courts. Peterson played in one game against the Rams and rushed for 75 yards.
Peterson has been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason, but Mike Freeman at Bleacher Report writes that it will be very hard to trade him at this point. Teams have worked out their running back situations and Peterson is 30 years old and is getting paid a ton of money. Peterson may end up showing up to camp later in the offseason and he can still retain his workout bonus. Zimmer is ready for Peterson, but the team also has Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata ready to step up again after they had to be the starters last season with Peterson out.