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Vikings Should Offer Adrian Peterson Guaranteed 2016 Salary, Says Media Big Shot

By Dan Zinski

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Is there some middle-ground where the Vikings and Adrian Peterson could meet in order to avoid a protracted hold out by the running back, a hold out that would no doubt cause headaches for Mike Zimmer and the rest of the team as they attempt to prepare for the 2015 season?

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Here’s one proposal for a possible compromise between Peterson and the team, offered up by media big shot Peter King in his latest MMQB:

"I think I understand Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer saying about Adrian Peterson: “He can either play for us or he cannot play. He’s not going to play for anyone else.” And I understand everyone thinking that Peterson, after being paid to not play for most of last year, should show up and take the $12.75 million he’s due in 2015. But there are a couple of obvious things here. One, Peterson really doesn’t want to play for Minnesota. He certainly now has come to the realization that he probably will have to. No team wants to pay a high draft choice for a 30-year-old running back with $44.25 million left on his contract over the next three years—a contract, by the way, that he’s unhappy with. Two, Peterson wants more guaranteed money in the back end of the contract. So if you’re the Wilfs, why not end this rancor now and get Peterson back in the good graces of the family (at least by appearances) by guaranteeing a vast portion or all of his 2016 salary? Then, if Peterson declines to take it, you know you’ve done a more than fair thing to meet Peterson halfway, and it’s on him."

Would the Wilfs really consider offering Adrian Peterson a fully guaranteed 2016 salary – $14.7 million – just to make him happy? After they already paid him millions to play exactly one game in 2014?

Had last season not gone down the way it did, the Vikings might be amenable to such a deal. But after last season it’s perfectly reasonable for the Vikes to think Peterson already got more than he deserved and isn’t in line for a penny more in guarantees.

The Vikings should not feel pressured to give in just because Peterson refuses to see reason. Let Petereson Twitter rant to his heart’s content. Let him stay away from OTAs. Let him grumble and sulk. Who cares as long as he ultimately shows up and plays?

And, as Mike Zimmer already pointed out, Peterson doesn’t really have any choice but show up and play. Unless he wants to retire and get nothing.

Next: Adrian Peterson Twitter rant

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