Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is desperate to see suspended running back Adrian Peterson return to the cozy confines of the organization's brand-spanking new digs in Downtown East.
However, Peterson, who told Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports in November that he'd have "loved" the opportunity to go back to Minnesota if he'd been reinstated before the end of the regular season, admitted that he has, at the very least, given thought to the possibility that "maybe it's best for me to get a fresh start somewhere else."
Zimmer, while speaking to Mike Florio of NBC Sports on a recent episode of Pro Football Talk Live, said that when given the chance, he'll attempt to sway Peterson toward staying with the Vikings, but will ultimately accept his decision, whatever it happens to be.
"I would respect Adrian's decision," Zimmer said, per Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com. "I'll always be honest with him and up front but I'm gonna try to explain to him the reasons why I would like to him to be here.
"But it has to be a two way street and he has to get his life taken care of - but we'll sit down and talk, but I'm a pretty good recruiter, too."
Pretty good recruiter or not, there may have already been damage done between the two sides that the veteran running back feels can't be undone.
Peterson told Pelissero in Nov. that he knows there are people in the Minnesota organization who have not supported him and don't necessarily want to see him return to the team.
"I would have to get back in the community and get a feel," Peterson said. "I know who loves me. The coaches and the players, it's not going to be a problem. I've felt so much support from those guys. The organization, I know there's people in the organization that support me and there's people that I know internally that has not been supporting me."
With Peterson slated to make $13 million in 2015 and with Zimmer's ardent interest in keeping him in purple, it's hard to see him heading elsewhere.
But the running back, who has only ever called Minnesota his professional football home, could seek an opportunity with another team, perhaps one closer to winning a Super Bowl.
No matter what Peterson decides there will be no shortage of open hearts and open checkbooks for the All-Pro, All-World tailback.
