Vikings’ GM Spielman believes Adrian Peterson will be back next season
Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman believes running back Adrian Peterson will be suiting up for the Vikings next season.
Rick Spielman believes that we have not seen the last of Adrian Peterson in purple and gold.
The Minnesota Vikings’ general manager, according to Sports Illustrated, said that he expects Peterson to be back with the team next season and play at a high level.
Peterson was charged back in September with injuring a child after he reportedly used a switch to discipline his four-year old son and caused significant injury. He pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service, a $4,000 fine, and to take parenting classes. He will also be on probation for two years.
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Shortly after Peterson was charged with causing injury to a child, the NFL made the decision to suspend the Vikings running back indefinitely until his legal situation was taken care of. This event with Peterson didn’t come long after the NFL indefinitely suspended Ray Rice for his domestic violence charges against is then fiancé, so this was already a touchy subject when Peterson’s case came to light.
Peterson, however, is eligible for reinstatement on April 15, and Spielman believes that the league will lift the suspension.
“He’s a good person,” Spielman said.
“I know that Adrian is a good person, just being around him,” Spielman said. “I know he’s done a lot of good in this community. Is there a resolution? Not right now. All’s I know is where we stand today. Does that change? I’m sure it’s going to change.”
Peterson is still under contract with the Vikings for the next three seasons and is expected to make $12.75 million.
The Vikings seemed to really struggle at first without Peterson on the field, but it seemed to get better as the year went on. Rookie running back Jerrick McKinnon stepped up into a starting role with Matt Asiata complimenting him as third-down/goal-line back, and rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looks like he’ll be a pretty decent quarterback for years to come with a little more development.
Still, there’s no doubt that the Vikings could use a player like Peterson. The question is, with Peterson turning 30 by next season, will he be able to come back after taking practically an entire year off and be the same player? Spielman doesn’t seem to have any doubts.
“I don’t know if there’s a team in the NFL that wouldn’t want Peterson on the football team,” Spielman said, according to USA TODAY. “If you can name me one … and I don’t want to speak for other teams … but I know that he’s a pretty good football player.”
We’ll just have to wait and see what happens after April 15.
H/T to Sports Illustrated and USA Today for the quotes.