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Adrian Peterson: ‘I knew I really wasn’t going anywhere’

By Adam Carlson

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For a while, the situation between the Minnesota Vikings and star running back Adrian Peterson looked bleak.  Much of this stemmed from the incident that Peterson had with his son which resulted in him missing significant time during the 2014 NFL season.  Some came from the hefty contract attached to a player who turned 30 years old in March.  And even Adrian Peterson’s agent had fans up in arms about some of the statements he made about the Vikings.

Jul 25, 2014; Mankato, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs through drills at training camp at Minnesota State University. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Because of those factors, many fans seemed to assume that Adrian Peterson’s time with the Minnesota Vikings would be coming to an end.  Rumors of a draft day trade or outright release were running rampant throughout social media and honestly, they didn’t seem that out of the question.

Fast forwarding to today, it’s interesting to look back and see all the positioning, rumors, speculation and drama that surrounded the situation.  For the most part, Adrian Peterson himself wasn’t a major participant in the drama, regulating himself to a comment on Twitter here or there, but now that he has joined the team for Minnesota Vikings training camp the drama has died down significantly.

A recent interview from Monday Morning Quarterback on the Sports Illustrated website with running back Adrian Peterson shows a player who was concerned about the situation that he was in, but is happy to be back with “family”.  Here is what he told SI’s Peter King:

"“The reality, and just to be straightforward with you … I knew I really wasn’t going anywhere. I am the type of person that likes to look at things from different views, so I put myself in the Vikings situation—the owners, the head coach. We’re not gonna let you go.”"

Adrian Peterson know how important he is to the Vikings organization.  The offense is built around him as a centerpiece, and (as we saw last season) the team can struggle mightily when he’s not a part of the lineup.  But more important than his role in the team might be his relationship to the players surrounding him in Minnesota.

"“More importantly, my situation with the Vikings is we’re like family. I’ve been around the people in the building for eight years. Brian Robison, we came in together and he’s still here. Chad Greenway … Those are the guys I love and care about and go out and bust my butt and for and give 100% for because they deserve it and I know I will get the same thing back from them. That’s what makes me happy.”"

Hopefully, that kind of family situation among the star players for the Minnesota Vikings can lead to success on the football field.  Now that this drama is in the rear view mirror, it is time to look ahead to the 2015 season and see how this team’s offense looks with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson on the field together.

And hopefully that makes Adrian Peterson happy.

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