Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said that he would happily welcome back running back Adrian Peterson if the team will have him.
While the fate of Adrian Peterson in the NFL will be decided in April when he applies for reinstatement, his fate with the Minnesota Vikings has arguably been decided in the minds of some. Peterson bears a $15 million cap charge with his contract and the Vikings could decide to walk away from that given all that’s happened in the last year. There’s at least one member of the organization, however, who would not be on board with letting AP walk.
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Head coach Mike Zimmer recently gave high praise to Peterson.
“Adrian was always great with me. I think he’s a good person,” Zimmer said, via ESPN. “I think obviously he’s a great running back, and if it works out that way and things work out and he gets his life in order — that’s the most important thing, he gets his life in order, he gets the opportunity to come back — then I will be in his corner whatever the decision is made.
“I think he would add value to any team, to be honest with you. I think the kid’s a heck of a football player.”
It’s hard to argue against a coach wanting what’s best for the team on the field. Despite his mammoth contract, Peterson is still one of the best running backs in the NFL at a time when there are precious few workhorse types who can set the tone for an offense.
The key to Peterson’s return to Minnesota could be a contract re-negotiation. If AP can re-structure his contract in a way to diminish his cap hit in 2015, the Vikings could field a more competitive roster in 2015, which would make life easier for all parties involved.
Of course, don’t expect Peterson to pass up on any guaranteed money. The NFL hit him for a total of six game paychecks for his misdemeanor child abuse charges, which adds up to a pretty penny. No one’s claiming poverty, but don’t expect Peterson to just put off his salary onto the 2016 books for the good of the team.
It will be a slow-moving process, but expect the Vikings and Peterson to do whatever they can to get him back in purple for at least the 2015 season.
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