Vikings: Adrian Peterson Contract Extension Is A Classy Move

Obviously the off-season was overloaded with a constant barrage of speculation about weather or not the Vikings and Adrian Peterson would part ways prior to the 2015 season.

There was a supposed deal with Dallas that we were told was a sure thing. There was an agent making a complete mockery of himself. There was silence from the player in question until Peterson unloaded a rant on Twitter that left us with more questions than answers. It was a mess to say the least.

But one thing we knew for sure the whole time is that the Vikings front office held all the cards, and whatever happened it would be a move that the Vikings felt was in the best interest of the team. Now Adrian is with his team in Mankato going through the rigorous grind of training camp with his team, and he has a fresh 3 year extension with more guaranteed money to set his mind at ease and both sides appear to be happy.

Dec 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) rushes for 18 yards as Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings (26) tackles him in the third quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. This run marked his 10,000 yards in career rushing. Vikings win 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Now let’s remember that any adversity Adrian was faced with was because he got himself in trouble, and the Vikings could have decided to cut him once the details of his charges were brought to light, much the same as the Ravens did with Ray Rice, or the Panthers with Greg Hardy. The fact that the Vikings were willing to stick this out, while many of the sponsors and a good chunk of the fan base were not, says a lot about the front office. It also says a lot about the talent of the player, but that said the Vikings could have got the mother load for Peterson in a pre-draft trade.

So in a league where the loyalty between players and teams is all but gone this seems to be the exception. The Vikings could have just kept Peterson on his old deal and he would of had to play for them or nobody at all, the fact that they were willing to give him what he wanted says that when he retires the plan is for him to retire as a career Viking.

In my humble opinion this move shows exceptional class from the organization. Two weeks from today we will get to see A.P. take his first hand-off from Teddy Bridgewater, and if this was any other front office we would most likely be preparing ourselves to cringe as we watched Tony Romo hand the rock to the best Running Back in the NFL.