Adrian Peterson may be looking to get out of Minnesota and the trade or release of the running back by the Vikings would not be a shock, as recent reports have AP not wanting to return and if that happens, teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, 49ers and Seattle Seahawks could be potential destinations.
Peterson's future in Minnesota has been speculated upon even before he dealt with legal troubles and as he awaits to come back from suspension, numerous reports have been coming out about what he will do in 2015. The Vikings as an organization have been public about their desire for Peterson to return, but sources have said that Peterson may not be so quick to want to come back. According to ESPN.com, Peterson is "uneasy" about returning to the Vikings after the way they treated him following news about his child abuse case.
The report says that Peterson felt that was not supported by the team and that his move to the exempt list was an "ambush" by the team and the league. Adding to all this is a report from CBS Sports that had Peterson's agent and someone from the Vikings organization get into a heated situation at the NFL combine. All that coupled with the fact that the Vikings may ask Peterson to take a pay cut could add up to Peterson being with another team in 2015.
On Outside the Lines, ESPN Vikings reporter Ben Goessling said that the promotion of Kevin Warren in the organization may not help things from Peterson's side of things. While Warren has come out to say that he wants Peterson to come back, earlier in the season it was reported that he was one of the people pushing Peterson out to the exempt list after the legal situation came up. Peterson has been the face of the franchise for years and the openness of the organization about wanting to keep him could be a tactic to keep good PR on their side.
Adam Schefter at ESPN writes that the team may ask Peterson to restructure his deal or to take a pay decrease to get his salary cap number down and if he says no, a move could be made. Fans may not be happy about that, but if it's framed with the Vikings wanting to keep him and Peterson not taking a pay cut, they could come out looking okay on the other end. Last week reports came out that Peterson had requested a trade to the Cowboys and while that was not confirmed, many have reported that both sides have interest.
Peterson and Jerry Jones have spoken to each other about their mutual respect, which was reported on last year from Outside the Lines. Peterson could be a target for the team as they try and sign back DeMarco Murray, while the Raiders also could be in the mix. Peterson is as productive as anyone in the league and while he is heading towards his 30th birthday, he is coming off of a year when his body did not take any hits. Peterson has a $15 million cap hit and that is likely where all this will start for the Vikings once Peterson is reinstated, which can happen in April.
