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NFL Rumors: Cowboys an option for Adrian Peterson?

By Brad Berreman

Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) warms up prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) warms up prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Adrian Peterson may be looking for a new team soon, and a fairly surprising landing spot has surfaced.

After a season where he played just three games, being due to $18 million in total this year and approaching 32 years old, Adrian Peterson’s time with the Minnesota Vikings seems to be over. A contact restructuring is possible, but Peterson has shown no real intention to take a pay cut until the open market proves he will have to.

Peterson has mentioned the Houston Texans, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as teams he would like to play for, assuming he does not stay with the Vikings. But another suitor may emerge, with prior mutual interest in mind.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dallas Cowboys could be an option for Peterson if he becomes available. In August of 2014, an ESPN profile of Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones cited a phone call with Peterson expressing interest in playing for the Cowboys and the interest being mutual.

Peterson is a native of Palestine, Texas and grew up a Cowboys’ fan, so finishing his career in Dallas probably still appeals to him. But the Cowboys are in a far different situation than they were two years ago, with Ezekiel Elliott coming off a rookie season where he led the league in rushing with 1,631 yards.

Elliott also led the NFL in carries with 322 this season, along with 32 receptions, so reducing his workload some could be a priority next season. Primary backup Alfred Morris had just 69 carries in 14 games this season, but he could be let go with minimal financial impact if the Cowboys want to make room on the depth chart for Peterson.

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The bigger question is if Peterson would accept a backup role with any new team while making a chance to win Super Bowl the highest priority as his career winds down. An elevated sense of his value and current skill level makes that seem unlikely, but if there’s a team Peterson would set ego aside for it’s probably the Cowboys.

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