Suspended NFL running back Adrian Peterson will, if the latest rumors are true and if Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has anything to say about it, be welcomed back to Minnesota with open arms next season.
"Well, as I've said many, many times, Adrian was always great with me," said Zimmer, according to Matt Vensel of the Minnesota Star-Tribune. "I think he's a good person. I think obviously he's a great running back and if it works out that way and things work out and he gets his life in order - that's the most important thing, he gets his life in order, he gets the opportunity to come back - then I will be in his corner whenever the decision is made."
Peterson was suspended by the NFL after facing charges of reckless injury involving his four-year-old son in May of last year. He will be reinstated by the league, assuming he meets all of the necessary protocols and terms of his suspension, on April 15.
Zimmer, despite everything that happened and despite Peterson's projected $15.4 million cap-hit and $13 million salary in 2015 - a number he has previously said he doesn't see the need to change - is hopeful for a quick resolution and return to the field for Peterson.
"Our hands our partly tied with the NFL and the timeframe that they give us. But also it's partly up to Adrian and make sure he's doing what he has to do in order to get back reinstated off the suspension," Zimmer said.
"So those are all factors that we have to factor in, but we would love to know ASAP just so that we can start going because a guy like him your football team and your offense can be different [if] you have him and you don't have him. It's how you want to build the team around him, at least in my opinion anyway."
Since his selection seventh-overall by the Vikings in the first round of the 2007 draft, Peterson has been far and away the best back in football. The 29-year-old has 10,190 rushing yards and 86 touchdowns thus far in his career.
"I think he would add value to any team, to be honest with you," Zimmer said. "I think the kid's a heck of a football player."
