Minnesota Vikings Wisely Restructure Adrian Peterson’s Contract
By Phil Naegely
It appears the issues between RB Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings are coming to an end as both sides have agreed to restructuring Peterson’s contract. While the Vikings won’t disclose the terms of the deal, NFL writers took to Twitter to share what Peterson and the Vikings both gain from the contract.
Rumblings the last few weeks were Peterson would trade a few dollars down the line in exchange for guaranteed money in short term.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 21, 2015
For all intents and purposes, Adrian Peterson had '15 money ($13m) guaranteed. Now has guarantees into '16, with '17 TBD.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 21, 2015
In addition to giving Peterson guaranteed money, the Vikings also show loyalty to a key part of their offensive unit. This is a continuing trend for the Vikings as AP’s Jon Krawczynski points out.
Vikings also have a history of taking care of guys they want in the fold. Clearly wanted Adrian. Makes sure everyone on same page into camp
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 21, 2015
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This is a good move for all parties. Peterson gets something he has reportedly wanted for weeks (guaranteed money), and the Vikings show their loyalty to a key offensive player by locking him up for the immediate future.
Additionally, this situation did not have high drama or hurt feelings. It also didn’t last into training camp and cause the media to focus on this instead of the action during practices or games. As a result, the distraction level surrounding Peterson remains low and thats something the Vikings and other players will appreciate. Other players won’t have to ask if Peterson should get a new contract or similar questions.
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At the same time, there is now no question whether or not Peterson will now be in training camp. He can now focus solely on preparing for the 2015 NFL season and that is great news for the Vikings.
As Peterson stated in a press release on the Vikings’ website , “I appreciate the Vikings for working together on this restructured contract, which provides additional security for me but also allows opportunities for me to further prove my value to the team and within the NFL,” said Peterson. “It was important for me to continue my career in Minnesota, and I cannot wait to get on the field in front of Vikings fans again.”
All in all, it’s a wise move for the Vikings and Peterson that should see the dynamic running back end his career in Viking purple; this is something that Vikings leadership is proud about most with the latest deal.
“This agreement is a win for both Adrian and the Vikings and is a positive step toward Adrian finishing his career as a Minnesota Viking,” said Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman. “As we have consistently said, Adrian is a valuable part of the Vikings organization and we look forward to his return to the field.”
Next: Expectations for Adrian Peterson in 2015
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