Minnesota Vikings: 5 Keys To Success In 2015

Nov 3, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) with his helmet off returns to the huddle against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

1. The team must keep Adrian Peterson happy

In his eight year career, Adrian Peterson has lead the league in rushing yards per game three times, in total rushing yards twice, and rushing touchdowns once. He’s also been to six Pro-Bowls and named as an All-Pro player three times. It isn’t too bold to say that he’s one of the best running backs in the game.

He managed to play in only one game in 2014 as he worked his way through a scandal for some off-the-field incidents, but has been reinstated for 2015 to play the full season. Luckily for the Vikings, he has quite a bit of experience returning from an extended absence after following up a 2011 season-ending ACL injury with 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. He should be ready to compete this season, and even at age 30 I expect Peterson to be one of the best in the league.

However, he doesn’t appear to be very happy in Minnesota.

This offseason has been full of Adrian Peterson rumors. Whether he was being released from the Vikings or traded to the Cowboys, the former Oklahoma Sooner was always the center of a new story.

News reports surfaced that Peterson was looking for a trade, and trying to get out of his contract with Minnesota, prompting Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer to say that Peterson could either play for the Vikings or not play at all (according to Brian Hall of FOX Sports). Peterson responded with a series of Tweets ranting about NFL contracts and player rights.

Finally, once all of the trade rumors were completely squashed and it was made clear that Peterson would be wearing a Minnesota jersey in 2015, he and the team tried to make up, taking to Twitter once again:

All of this drama, complication, and rumor can only serve to take away from the Minnesota Vikings’ performance on the field in the upcoming season. For the team to have success, Peterson has to be kept happy. Sure he professes to be happy with the Vikings, but anyone who has followed this story has to imagine that this may be less than completely true.

According to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, Peterson himself believes that he can break Emmitt Smith‘s all-time rushing record of 18,355 career yards. After coming within 8 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson‘s single-season record in 2012, many people think that’s actually quite possible. If I’m the Minnesota Vikings, I’m doing everything I can to keep this man from becoming upset with me.

He’s got over 10,000 career rushing yards, and remains at the top of his profession. Sure he’s likely to see some level of decline in the next few seasons, but keeping him happy may keep him around, and having him around can be nothing but good. He’s got three seasons left on his contract, meaning that Minnesota needs to make the most out of every play they have left with Peterson on the field, in case he decides to go elsewhere in 2018.

It seems unlikely that Peterson’s unhappiness turns into a dispute in the manner of receiver Michael Crabtree with the 49ers, cornerback Darrelle Revis with the Jets, or Emmitt Smith with the Cowboys, as Peterson isn’t exactly unhappy with his money (he’s scheduled to make $15.4 million in 2015), but that doesn’t mean the Vikings can rest easy. A player of his value must be pampered and pandered, and if he is left unhappy the team could suffer.

I fully expect Adrian Peterson to play as hard as he can in every snap he plays, and I don’t expect him to sit out any games over a contract dispute, but a disgruntled player could see a dip in effectiveness simply due to the distraction factor. If he is too worried about off-the-field issues, it will be hard for him to focus in his preparation and play. The Vikings are hoping to have a much better showing than their 7-9 performance in 2014 and Peterson is a key to this.

I’m not sure exactly what it will take to keep him pleased, but simply catering to him and his wishes, as well as publicly praising and supporting him can’t hurt. They also need to show that they are doing everything possible to put a winning team around him. Pleasing Adrian Peterson isn’t just a 2015 issue, but will effect the franchise as a whole far into the future.

Next: Teddy Bridgewater