Adrian Peterson: One Step Closer To Joining The Dallas Cowboys?
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) talks along the sidelines during the game with the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. Vikings win 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Following Tuesday’s decision by the NFL to suspend Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson for the rest of the regular season, the Pro Bowl player could be that much closer to playing in his home state next year.
Peterson, a native of Palestine, Texas had an impromptu phone discussion with Dallas Cowboys’ owner and general manager Jerry Jones back in June allegedly asking to end his career in Dallas. Unfortunately for both parties, an ESPN reporter was standing next to Jones when the call took place. But the unintentional breaking news did confirm one good thing: Peterson wants to be a Cowboy. And after the events of the past few days, his chances might be better than ever.
In September, Peterson was indicted by a grand jury on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. The charges stem from an incident in May when the All-Pro running back apparently disciplined his four-year old son with a switch (a thin tree branch with the leaves removed), which caused various cuts along the child’s legs, back, hands and scrotum.
In the meantime, the Vikings placed Peterson on the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list which bars him from all team activities until his case was settled, with pay.
Last week, the 29-year old running back pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault. He was charged a $4,000 fine and given 80 hours of community service. Peterson believed he would be reinstated after agreeing to the plea deal. But apparently, the NFL had different plans.
If the league’s current suspension of Peterson holds, the Vikings would not be able to trade or release the eight-year veteran until possibly April 15, 2015. That’s probably a date Cowboys fans should circle on their calendars. Peterson is appealing the NFL’s suspension as he wants to play this season. But no one knows what the repercussions will be once he does get back on the field. And there is a question of whether the 4-6 Minnesota Vikings would even risk further tarnishing their reputation by playing him.
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Regardless, we know where Peterson’s heart lies. And apparently, Cowboys fans feel the same way. In a recent poll on The Landry Hat, 79% of Dallas fans polled said they would support the running back playing for the Cowboys.
And looking at Peterson’s numbers, it’s no wonder so many fans support his possible arrival in Dallas. He is one of the greatest running backs in NFL history after all. In his eight-year career, Peterson has rushed for a total of 10,190 yards and 86 touchdowns. He averages 98.0 yards per game and has rushed for over 1,000 yards every season except for one (2011). Peterson is also a six-time Pro Bowler who has been voted a first team All-Pro three times.
As far as Dallas’ current team is concerned, Peterson would fit in well behind this young, talented offensive line. So well, in fact, the Cowboys could opt to not re-sign the NFL leading rusher in DeMarco Murray. Murray is in the final year of his rookie deal. Preliminary talks about a possible extension for the four-year back started last month. But the biggest hurdle is presumably due to Murray’s injury history. In the last three seasons, the Cowboys’ former third round pick in 2011 has missed a total of 11 games due to injury.
A better scenario for Dallas might be to move on from troubled back-up running back Joseph Randle this offseason and have Murray and Peterson in their backfield splitting the carries. Having both bruising backs as the focal point of the Cowboys’ offense would benefit and extend the careers of both players.
But this line of thought could be a bit of a pipe dream as Peterson is currently under contract with the Vikings until 2018. Back in 2011, Adrian signed a monster seven-year, $96 million contract with Minnesota. He is owed a whopping $44.25 million in the next three years. I simply could not see the Cowboys trading for him with that massive salary attached.
A more likely scenario would be the Vikings parting ways with Peterson in the offseason and having him sign with Dallas as a free agent. But there a lot of dominoes that have to fall in place in order for that to happen. But this week’s latest suspension could be one of those key pieces. Regardless, we all know where Peterson wants to end up.
