There have been a seemingly endless number of angles explored in regards to the Adrian Peterson-Minnesota Vikings saga in recent days - a holdout, a trade, a contract restructuring carrying more guaranteed money and providing further security for Peterson's family and future.
Something that hasn't yet been considered, but which apparently is very much in play for the mercurial ballcarrier, is the possibility of hanging up his cleats, helmets and shoulder pads altogether should the Vikings fail to fulfill his request for a trade.
"Furthermore, some who have talked to Peterson with regularity since his trip to the Commissioner's Exempt List, say he has ruminated on the possibility of retirement more than once, and has seemed less than enthusiastic about the prospect of playing professional football more than once. He has maintained a posture that he would go to great lengths to not have to play for the Vikings again," Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reports.
Peterson, 30, would prefer to remain a member of the NFL brotherhood and receive his $12.75 million salary for the 2015 season, he simply doesn't want to do it as a member of the Vikings franchise, who he feels failed to support him during his child abuse scandal and league mandated suspension.
The Vikings - team owners Mark and Zygi Wilf, head coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman - have been adamant that they don't want to trade Peterson and have, presumably, seen no suitors come forth and offer the type of package which would allow them to save face in a potential Peterson deal.
Still, Peterson wants out. The question is simply to what ends will he go to break free?
Per La Canfora, if it means parting ways with Minnesota, Peterson may be willing to go very, very far.
"Multiple sources have told me that refrain dating back to the earliest weeks of his clash with the NFL when the police reports of his beating of his child appeared on the Internet. While some of this might be the usual rhetoric we hear in these types of clashes, I've always got the sense that Peterson would play most any card to try to wiggle free if at all possible," La Canfora writes.
With Peterson and agent Ben Dogra seemingly dug in and the Vikings looking less and less likely to acquiesce to the petulant desires of one player, this situation could continue well into the summer.
"Dogra doesn't back down easy, or often. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is not one to be trifled with. And Peterson, again according to some who have been in close contact with him, has seemed ambivalent at best about continuing his vocation after this ongoing ordeal."
While retirement seems a farfetched and unlikely outcome of this situation for Peterson, something will have to give at some point and the loss of a $250,000 workout bonus for skipping OTAs doesn't seem like it will have much effect on Peterson or push him to show up anytime soon.
