Rick Spielman “broke his silence” on Adrian Peterson yesterday, but didn’t say anything particularly interesting or unexpected.
More from Vikings Rumors
- Vikings Rumors: Minnesota was trying to trade Kirk Cousins at the Combine
- Vikings odds to trade for Lamar Jackson are soaring
- Vikings Rumors: Former Chiefs receiver is on Minnesota’s radar
- Vikings Rumors: Trade calls about Danielle Hunter have been made
- Vikings Rumors: Minnesota looking to shakeup their running back room
As you would anticipate from a GM who likes playing his cards close to the vest, Spielman stuck with generic praise and unilluminating recapitulation when discussing Peterson’s future in Minnesota (via ESPN.com):
"“I know that Adrian [Peterson] is a good person, just being around him,” Spielman said while sitting at the head of a conference room table inside the team’s offices at Winter Park. “I know he’s done a lot of good in this community. What he did, he’s come out and said he made a mistake. As [Mike Zimmer] said earlier, he has to get that in order and we’ll proceed from there.”"
No matter what Spielman says, his words are going to be spun by some people as proof that the Vikings are cooking up a trade.
If Spielman praises Peterson, it’s his way of “laying the groundwork” for a deal.
Spielman’s positive words about Peterson could also be seen as an effort to smooth things over with that part of the Vikings’ fanbase who have turned against the former MVP, with an eye toward keeping Peterson in the fold for 2015.
You can go either way with that, which is how this whole “rumor mill” thing works.
If I had to guess about what’s really going on in Winter Park, I’d say the Vikings probably are willing to listen to offers on Peterson, but are not looking to simply dump him.
If some team – say the Dallas Cowboys – were to offer an attractive package of picks in exchange for Peterson? Then I think Spielman would pull the trigger without hesitation.
But if no team overwhelms the Vikings with a great offer, I believe they’re prepared to move forward with Peterson on the team, provided Peterson is willing to renegotiate his contract.
Any way you slice it, the Vikings’ cause is best-served by Spielman keeping things bland and positive like he did yesterday. Anyone who thinks they can read Spielman’s words and see his true intentions is just fooling themselves.
Nobody knows yet what will happen with Peterson, and that includes Rick Spielman.