Vikings meet with running back Adrian Peterson
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman met with running back Adrian Peterson in Houston on Wednesday to discuss the six-time Pro Bowler’s future.
Peterson issued a statement to Josina Anderson of ESPN after the meeting.
"I appreciate Rick [Spielman] and Coach [Mike] Zimmer coming down to see me today," Peterson said. "We had a great dialogue and they were able to understand where I was coming from and concerns my family and I still have. We respect each other and hopefully the situation can pan out so that everyone involved is content."
According to a USA Today report, Zimmer and Spielman traveled to Houston to meet with Peterson and his wife for the first time since a U.S. district judge overturned his suspension.
U.S. District Judge David Doty ruled last week that arbitrator Harold Henderson “failed to meet his duty” and that the league cannot retroactively punish Peterson because of its new personal conduct policy.
Peterson missed 15 games last year after being indicted on assault charges for hitting his 4-year-old son with a switch. He was on the commissioner’s exempt list until he was suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2014 season in November after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault.
The NFL is appealing Doty's decision and Peterson returned to the exempt list, which allows him to meet with the Vikings brass.
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Minnesota is free to release or trade Peterson if it chooses.
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Peterson, 29, remains under contract for the next three seasons and is scheduled to make $12.75 million in 2015, plus a $250,000 workout bonus.
Yahoo Sports reports that Peterson has thought about potential trade destinations and would consider restructuring his contract with the Vikings if a trade became imminent.
“I think it's been very clearly stated that we want Adrian Peterson back,” Spielman said. "There's no question about the talent. He's a unique talent, and he's under contract with us next year.”
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