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Adrian Peterson is unsure about his future with the Vikings

By FanSided Staff

Oct 8, 2014; Conroe, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson watches as attorney Rusty Hardin (not pictured) speaks to the media outside of the Montgomery county courthouse. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2014; Conroe, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson watches as attorney Rusty Hardin (not pictured) speaks to the media outside of the Montgomery county courthouse. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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After being suspended for the majority of the 2014 season, Adrian Peterson will likely be allowed to rejoin the Minnesota Vikings soon. 

Adrian Peterson is not feeling confident he wants to be a Viking again after the way the organization has treated him during his suspension. The 2012 NFL MVP has not played a game since week one of the 2014 season in response to being placed on the paid-leave list. The suspension came after Peterson had charges filed against him for child abuse.

Peterson will most likely regain his eligibility to play again no later than April 15th, but as the legal process plays out, the running back is reevaluating where he wants to play out the remainder of his career. The controversial suspension has taken its toll on Peterson, but apparently the Vikings have been less than supportive.

“It shows you can have all the loyalty toward someone and toward an organization, a fanbase, but when things really shift and it’s you or the empire, they’re gonna put you out on a leash,” he told ESPN in an interview. “I said, ‘Of course (I would love to come back to the Vikings…)’ But my emotions, as far as those things I feel, those are for players like Chad Greenway, those guys that play the game just like me… That’s where it come from. It don’t come from the organization.”

Strong words from the man who has played his entire eight year career with the Vikings. And quite the career he has had.

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Peterson has led the Vikings to three playoff appearances. In 2008, Minnesota played in the wildcard game only to fall to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Again in 2009, Peterson helped the Vikings make it to the Conference Championship game, where they would end up losing in to the New Orleans Saints.

Perhaps the most astonishing feat of his career, was where he basically single handedly willed the Vikings into the playoffs with his 2,097 rushing yards in 2012. This performance came within nine yards of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. No one could touch Peterson that year. And it doesn’t seem the former MVP is showing any signs of slowing down, despite getting up there in age for running backs.

Despite all this history with the Vikings, Peterson is still hesitant to rejoin the organization. Vikings general manager, Rick Spielman said that he wants and expects Peterson to be with the team for the 2015 season.

“Adrian’s been a key part of our organization,” Spielman told Tom Pelissero at the NFL scouting combine. “He’s made a mistake. He’s doing everything and he’s got to follow through, rectify and do the things that the NFL’s requiring him to do.”

So I guess the Vikings and Peterson are not on the same page when it comes to where he will playing come August. They better figure it out soon as Peterson will be one of the most sought after backs this summer if he decides to place himself on the trading block.

Acting sooner rather than later would be in the Vikings best interest if they plan on keeping their prized running back on the roster. He is expected to be reinstated in the League no later than April 15th. Repairing that confidence Peterson once had in the Vikings organization should be at the top of the Vikings’ list of things to do this off-season.

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