Adrian Peterson might not be able to be especially picky when it comes to selecting a second NFL employer, provided the Vikings send him to free agency for the first time in his career. Surveying several GMs, CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora reports a skepticism exists about multiple facets of Peterson’s career going forward.
The aforementioned GMs expressed “real concerns” about how much Peterson has left and whether or not he’d be willing to accept a contract commensurate with a running back on the downside of his career. The high-level decision-makers wonder if the soon-to-be 32-year-old ball-carrier would take a one-year, $5MM deal with an incentive-laden structure if that’s what a team was offering. He made at least $11MM in base salary from 2013-16.
“It only takes one team to do something stupid,” an NFL contract negotiator told La Canfora, “but I can’t see there being much out there for him once the Vikings let him go.”
As far as possible interest in going to the Giants or Cowboys, La Canfora notes Big Blue would be better off using potential Peterson money to upgrade their offensive line and target a younger back to complement Paul Perkins, while the reporter questions how Peterson would co-exist with Ezekiel Elliott in a situation where the three-time rushing champion would be a backup. The Patriots warranted a mention here, given their penchant for cheap veterans, but La Canfora suggests the running back’s recent film sample may not appeal to Bill Belichick. Despite winning the 2015 rushing crown, Peterson’s averaged 2.9 yards per carry in the eight games prior to his meniscus tear in September of 2016.
Noting questions would ensue about Peterson’s willingness to be a five- or 10-touch player as a backup on a contending team, along with those about his durability, La Canfora does not expect Peterson to encounter a seller’s market. Instead, a Frank Gore-esque contract (the Colts’ starter signed for $12MM over three years in 2015) could be the reality with which Peterson is confronted.
I wouldn’t count ap out. He is a rare and special talent who comes back from injuries quicker than anyone and is a once in a generation talent.
Adrian is a great back but he’s a big time fumbler. You can’t count on him in crunch time. When you really need him, you can count on him fumbling. He did it against New Orleans, against Seattle. He was even losing control of the ball when he got injured last year and fumbled it away after his comeback last year on the best run he had during the game. Unrealiable and I would not put the ball in his hands unless I am up by a couple touchdowns.
Amazing player. Wouldn’t want my team investing in him though. I think the historical question to be asked is if he was the best RB of his generation, or was it Tomlinson?
Talent has never been his problem; ego and over-inflated self worth will be his downfall.
I think the giants really should think about ap I truly believe they would be the next super bowl team I know they are a draft away and fixing the running back lack of Peterson just has to score and the other running has to make the yardage and the third back would put them over good luck giants on this move
Anyone taking AP would be making a big mistake the Bikes blew it by not trading him the year before
In fairness he had what should have been a season-ending injury and who knows what he would have done if he were legitimately healthy all year…
…but it’s football, not Olympic equestrian show jumping. There’s a time limit to your career in the NFL and he’s running up against it one way or another.
It’s not like that Giant team is young. Someone thinking Paul Perkins is anybody’s answer needs to be fired because he was terrible. Just because he was good in college doesn’t mean anything. Manning was bad to put it nicely last year, and the defense is patched together with a lot of FAs that will bottleneck their cap in a couple of years. Why not take a shot on one of the best players of a generation who got his career squandered in Minnesota? I think one reason he mentioned NY is because he knows that team has a tradition of running the ball, and he could be fed the rock there; however, I don’t know if McAdoo is on that wavelength. His offense frankly stunk last year and the defense carrried them.