The Minnesota Vikings got Adrian Peterson back on Tuesday for OTA workouts with the running back finally reporting for offseason activities and this comes after numerous reports that Peterson could be traded or that he could hold out to get a new contract in training camp this summer.
The Vikings have been consistent about saying they want Peterson back and on Tuesday head coach Mike Zimmer said that the team supports him "unequivocally." According to Josina Anderson at ESPN, Peterson returned to the team and said that he is looking forward to "re-familiarizing" himself with the offense and the "direction" that the team is trying to go in with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Peterson missed nearly all of last season after being put on the exempt list due to his legal issues, taking away crucial time in the new offense.
Peterson is coming back to a team that learned how to live without him and the running back now has the chance to get into the mix with Norv Turner's offense. Turner was hired as offensive coordinator last season and he helped Bridgewater have a strong rookie season and now the Vikings feel that he is their starter for the near future. Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata took over with Peterson gone and they were mostly effective, but getting a Hall of Fame talent back could be huge for Bridgewater moving forward.
The Vikings have Mike Wallace after acquiring him from the Dolphins and getting Peterson back is like another acquisition from the offseason. The Vikings were up and down in 2014, but they showed some strong signs of progress on offense and getting Peterson back should only help things improve even more. Peterson technically could consider a holdout in training camp moving forward, but now that he is back, he likely will not go that route.
Gary Myers at the Daily News wrote on Tuesday that the Vikings won "the standoff" with Peterson, as they did not blink at Peterson's reported demands for a new contract or guaranteed money. Reports said that Peterson wanted a trade out of Minnesota if he did not get a new contract, but the Vikings remained consistent and did not trade Peterson. Peterson is making $12.75 million this season and next year he has a salary near $15 million, but that is not fully guaranteed. Peterson is 30-years-old and he likely will not get money like that anywhere else and that is why the Vikings stood their ground, as they have Peterson under contract for three years and over $40 million.
Peterson was pushed to the exempt list last season after dealing with his legal issues off the field and that was one of the reasons why he wanted out of Minnesota. Peterson said to reporters on Tuesday that he felt it was the right time to come back and that he is excited to get started for the 2015 season. Zimmer said that Peterson would be back at his normal position once he returned and that "no concessions" were made in contract talks to get Peterson back. Zimmer also said the team was not looking to trade Peterson at all this offseason.
