Vikings Say Adrian Peterson Will Play vs. Saints

The Vikings have moved quickly to shut down any speculation about Adrian Peterson’s status amid his legal difficulties, releasing a statement Monday morning saying the running back will return to the field this weekend against the Saints.

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The Vikings statement reads:

"Today’s decision was made after significant thought, discussion and consideration. As evidenced by our decision to deactivate Adrian from yesterday’s game, this is clearly a very important issue. On Friday, we felt it was in the best interests of the organization to step back, evaluate the situation, and not rush to judgment given the seriousness of this matter. At that time, we made the decision that we felt was best for the Vikings and all parties involved.To be clear, we take very seriously any matter that involves the welfare of a child. At this time, however, we believe this is a matter of due process and we should allow the legal system to proceed so we can come to the most effective conclusions and then determine the appropriate course of action. This is a difficult path to navigate, and our focus is on doing the right thing. Currently we believe we are at a juncture where the most appropriate next step is to allow the judicial process to move forward.We will continue to monitor the situation closely and support Adrian’s fulfilment of his legal responsibilities throughout this process."

A report on Sunday indicated that the Vikings would not release Peterson but might still seek to trade him.

Realistically, trading Peterson is not an option given his salary and the current cloud hanging over his head.

One has to wonder what the Vikings’ response to Peterson’s situation would have been had they not gotten clobbered at home by the Patriots Sunday.

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