Report: Adrian Peterson tells Vikings he will skip OTAs this week
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will not be attendance when the Vikings begin organized team activities on Tuesday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Ben Goessling of ESPN.com added confirmation on Monday that Peterson told Vikings coach Mike Zimmer he would not attend the three days of OTAs beginning Tuesday.
Peterson "has been disgruntled because he has not believed some in the Minnesota organization did enough to get him back on the field last fall," Tomasson reported.
Peterson played one game last season before he was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List after he was indicted in Texas on charges of child abuse. Peterson was suspended indefinitely in November after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault.
A federal judge overturned Peterson's suspension in February, but Peterson was not formally reinstated until April 16. The NFL players' union filed a motion Tuesday asking that the league be held in contempt of court for ignoring the judge's February ruling.
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Yahoo's Charles Robinson reports Peterson's decision not to attend the workouts intended to be a message to the Vikings that he wants to be traded.
Peterson's future with the Vikings was the subject of much speculation this off-season. General manager Rick Spielman and owner Mark Wilf have said they would like Peterson back with the team. Peterson's agent, Ben Dogra, reportedly had a "heated exchange" with Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski at the NFL combine in February. Dogra also said in March that he doesn't "think it's in [Peterson's] best interests" to remain in Minnesota. Peterson has three years remaining on his contract.
Peterson was the subject of many trade rumors during the off-season, especially involving the Dallas Cowboys. Peterson, a native of the Dallas area, said last month that it would be "nice" to play for the Cowboys but acknowledged that the situation is out of his control.
If Peterson does not attend 90% of Minnesota's preseason workouts, he will forfeit a $250,000 bonus, according to Tomasson. The Vikings have two more sets of OTAs in June and a mandatory mini-camp later that month.
- Dan Gartland
