While it won't fully put to bed the trade rumors swirling around All Pro running back Adrian Peterson - because really, nothing will - Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer's comments Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix certainly made it clear that the team has zero intention of seeing Peterson play for another NFL franchise any time in the near future.
"I'm not going to speculate on what he wants or doesn't want. He's under contract for three more years with us and that's why you sign these contracts, and why you get these big bonuses," Zimmer said, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. "We're planning on him being back. We have no plans to trade Adrian."
According to Rapoport, Zimmer stressed his expectation that Peterson, who has both asked for his outright release and for a trade, will be on the roster next season and reiterated his belief that Peterson will honor his contract in the end.
Peterson's agent Ben Dogra told the media at the outset of the league's annual meetings that he didn't believe it was in Peterson's "best interests" to play for Minnesota going forward, per an ESPN report.
"The bottom line is Adrian is an important part of the Minnesota Vikings," Vikings owner Mark Wilf said in response shortly after Dogra's comments. "He's represented us on and off the field. We're getting ready for the 2015 season and we fully expect him to join his teammates and be a part of what we feel is going to be a great season ahead."
The team has been stolid in their response to the petulance shown by Peterson since his return from a suspension on charges of domestic violence in connection with an incident involving his then four-year-old son.
Peterson is reportedly distrustful of certain members of the front office, most notably Kevin Warren, who was alleged to have worked in conjunction with the league to keep Peterson off the field last season.
In the end, Peterson is under contract for three more seasons and unless he plans on holding out and losing the opportunity to pad his already Hall of Fame-worthy stats, it seems he'll remain a member of the Vikings.
