Adrian Peterson will not return to Minnesota Vikings

After signing Latavius Murray to a multi-year deal, the Vikings will not be re-signing Adrian Peterson.

When Minnesota made a major roster move in the middle of the night to sign running back Latavius Murray to a multi-year deal, one could connect the dots to know that running back Adrian Peterson’s time in the Twin Cities was coming to an end.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “Vikings [general manager] Rick Spielman says on a conference call that Adrian Peterson ‘will be moving on'”. Peterson spent his entire NFL career with the Vikings organization.

Peterson was a six-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro and the 2012 NFL MVP in 10 seasons with the Vikings. He was the former No. 7 overall pick by Minnesota in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma.

Peterson led the NFL in rushing three times, totaling 11,747 and 97 touchdowns in 10 years in Minnesota. Though he will play the 2017 NFL season at 32 years old, Peterson could play for another year or two should he feel so inclined. His health was an issue in 2016, but he can be a change-of-pace back for a playoff contender should he land in the right system.

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However, Peterson has to realize that the NFL does not see him as a bell-cow back any longer. He likely won’t be able to carry the football 20-plus times per game for the team he ends up signing with. While he dazzled for the Vikings for the last decade, the Super Bowl evaded Peterson during his Hall of Fame-worthy career. Could Peterson get to play for a Lombardi Trophy in 2017? He can, only if he accepts a new role on a new team.