There is still doubt about whether or not Adrian Peterson will in fact be the starting running back for the Minnesota Vikings. As the team kicks off organized team activities, Peterson has yet to be seen at the facilities, reportedly working out in Texas for the time being. Peterson remains under contract with the Vikings as a trade is nowhere in sight and head coach Mike Zimmer says he has an idea of when the running back will finally appear at practice.
Zimmer stressed on ESPN radio that he would like full attendance during OTAs, but it is up to Peterson to decide whether or not to appear. According to the head coach the Vikings are not trading Peterson and expect him to be ready to play Week 1 which may or may not be pleasing to the veteran.
"I think I do have an indication," Zimmer said, via ESPN 1500. "It's up to Adrian, really. He's the guy you should ask. . . . We'd like all our players here. It's the voluntary time of year right now and it's his decision in what he wants to do."
According to the Pioneer Press, Peterson's agent has given up on the idea of getting a trade and is now pushing for a contract extension. The running back is currently signed through the 2017 season, but his agent is pushing for a new deal that guarantees he stays in Minnesota for the rest of his career. General manager Rick Spielman did not sound keen on the idea.
"He is a player under contract," Spielman said, via PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio. "We never discuss with any of our players any financial consequences or anything financial with players' contracts. We never discuss them publicly. That is kept internally, hopefully between the agent, the player, and ourselves, regardless of what the player is. There's nothing I can tell you. All I can tell you at this point he is under contract with the Vikings. We intend to honor his contract in the '15 season as we look forward to having him rejoin our team."
For now, Jerick McKinnon will get the starting nod over Matt Asiata. Those two will compete until Peterson returns. Meanwhile, Cordarrelle Patterson is battling for his spot on the depth chart as players like Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright and Mike Wallace are favored over the third-year receiver along with rookie Stefon Diggs. According to Zimmer, he believes Patterson will really make a jump for the better this season.
"Cordarrelle is doing a good job in this offseason," Zimmer said, via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "He has been in better shape coming in, and he is doing a better job of running routes, of competing each and every down. I look forward to him coming on and I'm a big fan of his. We're just trying to get him to realize all the little intricacies you have to do offensively in the NFL in order to be a great player."
