Perhaps no other player's future is as interesting as Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson, the 2012 MVP, missed all but one game this season as he spent the majority of the year on the NFL's exempt list. Peterson was involved in a domestic violence incident with his 4-year-old son that has clouded his NFL future.
Peterson eventually pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault and will not serve any jail time. His time in Minnesota, however, could be coming to an end. That may seem surprising, as Peterson is generally considered the most talented running back in the NFL. But the timing and financial implications of such a move makes sense.
"I don't think Adrian Peterson wants to remain a Viking and I am not sure the Vikings really need to deal with the headache of reinstating him," Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com wrote. "The organization should be looking toward the future and he is the one link to the past. Releasing him saves the team $13 million in cap space."
Peterson will also turn 30 in March, the standard age for running backs to start wearing down. He is far from a standard running back, though. He returned from an ACL tear to rush for over 2,000 yards in 2012. His time away from the game this season also spared him the 250 or so carries he would have received. It's more than possible that a well-rested and motivated Peterson could once again be a dangerous and effective offensive weapon. Whether that will be with Minnesota remains to be seen.
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has hinted that the team would welcome Peterson back, though it is unknown if that is just good natured posturing.
"I don't know if there's a team in the NFL that wouldn't want Adrian Peterson on the football team," Speilman said. "If you can name me one...and I don't want to speak for other teams...but I know that he's a pretty good football player."
Peterson is eligible for reinstatement on April 15. What happens after that is anyone's guess.
