NFL Trade Machine: The Adrian Peterson Conundrum
By Erik Lambert
Sep 7, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) looks on during the second half against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Vikings defeated the Rams 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
By all accounts it seems the return of running back Adrian Peterson to the pros is anything but a triumphant one. It’s unclear whether the Minnesota Vikings want him back and rumors persist he’d like to be traded, preferably to the Dallas Cowboys.
The interest to play there is obvious. He’d have Tony Romo for a quarterback, an outstanding offensive line in front of him and would be able to play for a team he idolized growing up. However, it doesn’t seem like the Vikings are willing to make such a move. When that became clear, his agent Ben Dogra reportedly got into a shouting match VP of football operations Rob Brzezinski over the affair.
Sources closes to the situation insist these events have resulted in one truth: Peterson won’t play another down in Vikings purple again.
If that’s the case, what will they do with him? The two options would be a trade or cutting him. Were they to simply part ways, it would free up $13 million in salary cap space. However, one would think the team wants to get some sort of return on him via trade.
Their reasoning for blocking a deal with Dallas is also logical. The Cowboys are an NFC playoff contender. Why would Minnesota seek to strengthen their cause by giving them a Pro Bowl running back? More likely a scenario is they try to deal him to an AFC team. It’s just a matter of which one.
Keep an eye on the Indianapolis Colts
It may not top his personal list, but this is a move that with time Adrian Peterson might get behind. Why not? The Indianapolis Colts have reached the playoffs three-straight years and are coming off an AFC championship appearance. They have a star quarterback in Andrew Luck who isn’t aging like Brett Favre was when he came to Minnesota. If they were able to collect Peterson and improve their atrocious ground attack, it could shift the balance of power in that conference.
Much will depend on how the NFL trade market develops. That and how talks between Peterson and the Vikings progress.