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| Adrian Peterson ready to move on after plea deal with no jail time. Photo credit: AP |
Adrian Peterson plead no-contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault. Now that he will not face any jail time, his return to the NFL will be an interesting journey as teams line-up to get him.
by +Rodney FisherWith his court case behind him, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goddell will have to make the decision on when to reinstate Peterson and what punishment they will levy against him. The NFLPA feels that he will get the same punishment that any other misdemeanor offense would warrant, which is nothing more than a few suspended games. Peterson has already missed eight games with pay.
The Minnesota Vikings took a tough stance on Adrian Peterson when the indictment was handed down. The owner Ziggy Wolf, under pressure from the Minnesota governor and corporate sponsors, all but promised that Peterson will not put a Vikings uniform back on again. Now with the team 4-5 and taking the ups-and-downs of a rookie quarterback everyone is very careful of the words they choose when talking about his possible return.
Viking general manager Rick Spielman declined to comment at this time. Head coach Mike Zimmer only says that he thinks highly of Adrian Peterson the person. His teammates continue to show support for Peterson and want him back on the team.
Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph:
"Guys have chatted amongst each other, and I don't think there's anyone in that locker room that would need to hear from him. We all know the kind of person Adrian is, and I feel like he's proven that over his time here."
Peterson wants to return to the field as quickly as possible. People close to him have informed me that he is prepared to leave Minnesota, even though he has not stated that publicly throughout his ordeal. NFL teams have quietly had discussions in their front office about him if he becomes available.
If Minnesota decides to keep their zero tolerance stance with their best player, all signs point that he may remain in Texas with the Dallas Cowboys. You may remember an impromptu phone conversation between Jerry Jones and Adrian Peterson this past offseason. The phone call was not planned. Peterson's agent handed Jerry the phone at a concert and Jones hurriedly rushed Peterson off of the phone. While people focused on the conversation, the real focus should be the close relationship Peterson's agent and owner Jerry Jones has. Adrian grew up in Palestine, Texas, only a 90-minute drive east from Dallas. With his looming probation requirements, staying close the East Texas would be good for him and his family.
Why would the Dallas Cowboys go after Adrian Peterson when they have a stud running back that is leading the league in rushing named DeMarco Murray? The answer is the same reason why they have yet to offer Murray an extension to remain a Cowboy next season.
The Cowboys' invested heavily in their stout offensive line. The addition of Tyron Smith, Zach Martin, and Travis Frederick over the last three years in the first round of the NFL draft gives them the luxury of being flexible at the running back position. If Murray can do well, then what could Peterson do with this offensive line?
Dallas is not the only team looking at possibly adding Peterson. If released or traded in the offseason, sources have confirmed that the list will be long to get him regardless of his no-contest plea deal. Those teams include championship contenders like the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Indianapolis Colts. They all believe that Peterson will be a bargain deal due to his diminished public appeal.
Information from sources like ESPN, USA Today, and Associated Press were used in this article.
