Adrian Peterson denies OTAs absence is about a trade

Adrian Peterson is denying that his absence at Minnesota Vikings OTAs is about wanting a trade.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been noticeably absent from the team’s OTAs. There have been some rumors that it could be about Peterson’s unhappiness with the team, and his desire for a trade.

That is all just conjecture according to Peterson.

“The reason I’m not attending OTAs has nothing to do with wanting to be traded. It’s about securing my future with the Vikings. It’s business, not personal and I understand that firsthand. Go Vikings,” Peterson said in a statement to Josina Anderson.

Peterson mentions that it is business and not personal, which a trade would essentially be as well.

Is Peterson holding out for a new contract or an extension? Peterson signed a seven-year $96 million dollar contract in 2011, which will pay him $12.75 million next year, $14.75 million in 2016 and $16.75 million in 2017 before he becomes a free agent in 2018.

Hard to imagine with that kind of deal in place he’d look to restructure his deal. That is a big reason why everyone believes this is all about a trade, and let’s face it that is probably the truth.

USA Today’s Tom Pelissero, who is a former Vikings beat writer, believes Peterson will eventually end his hold out and suit up for the Vikings in 2015 calling a desired trade a “pipe dream.”

The team seems committed to paying him the money and putting him out on the field. According to Coach Mike Zimmer, Peterson has “two choices. He can either play for us or he can not play.”

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