Minnesota Vikings Rumors: Adrian Peterson Could Be Traded To Cardinals, But Decision Will Likely Come Soon
The Minnesota Vikings are rumored to be working with a new potential partner for an Adrian Peterson trade, a deal that could be building steam in the wake of the Dallas Cowboys’ recent addition.
Throughout the off-season, the Cowboys were named as the likely landing point for Peterson, who appeared on his way out of Minnesota. The Cowboys had a hole in their backfield with the departure of DeMarco Murray and had reportedly coveted the Texas native Peterson, with owner Jerry Jones even reaching out last year to gauge his interest in coming to the Cowboys.
But now that Dallas has signed former Raiders running back Darren McFadden, a new team has emerged in the running to land Adrian Peterson. The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly interested in the All Pro running back. Cardinals left tackle Jared Veldheer said he is on board with the idea.
“You know I’ve heard a little bit about it,” he told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports on 98.7 FM on Friday. “But you can’t look into that stuff too much before it actually happens because there is so much speculation that goes around.
“But all I’m saying is if Adrian Peterson’s in my backfield, I’m not going to be upset as a lineman.”
There are many who think that Peterson could still end up in Dallas, however. New York Post columnist Mark Cannizzaro said that Peterson could still be in the plans for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
“Perhaps Jones still is interested in Peterson — even with McFadden having been signed to a modest two-year contract.”
“If Dallas is interested in acquiring Peterson, the question Cowboys fans would have to ask is this: Why let Murray go because they didn’t want to pay him the $8 million per year the Eagles did and bring in Peterson, who’s due to make $12.75 million in 2015, $14.75 million in 2016 and $15.75 million in 2017?”
If the rumors don’t pan out, then the Minnesota Vikings may end up keeping Adrian Peterson. The team’s new chief operating officer, Kevin Warren, has said publicly that the Vikings would welcome Peterson back this year, and still has an important place on the team for him.
“I think I’ve made it very clear how I personally feel about Adrian, how our organization feels about him,” Warren said Thursday.
“(Vikings president) Mark Wilf made it very clear yesterday… Last year was a complicated year, at various levels, but once Adrian gets all of his items resolved with the NFL, is free to play again and rejoin our franchise, I think it’s good for Adrian. It’d be good for us, it’d be good for all the Vikings fans, it’d be good for our community and it’d be good for the NFL.”
Whatever rumors may or may not be true, the Minnesota Vikings could be making a decision on Adrian Peterson very soon. There are only a handful of few running backs left in free agency and the remaining ones are signing quickly, so time may be running out to determine how next year’s backfield situation will shake out.
[Image via Getty]
