From the day Adrian Peterson burst on the scene at Palestine (TX) High School the spotlight has been quite bright.
Now those lights are intensified as ever as the talented, some may say troubled, running back and the Minnesota Vikings work through their options moving forward with the league year beginning and free-agency shifting into high-speed overdrive.
The Vikings, with Peterson on the commissioner’s exempt list, have the option to trade, release or renegotiate his current contract. Minnesota’s deal with the six-time Pro-Bowler runs for three more seasons.
One of the reported leaders for the 29-year-old star is the Arizona Cardinals who were second-to-last in the league in rushing last season. The Cards averaged less than 82 yards per game and only 3.3 per attempt.
SI.com Senior NFL Writer Peter King says a Peterson-Vikings’ divorce is imminent and “A.P” could possibly be wearing red again like he did as a unanimous first-team All-American at Oklahoma.
“[If] the Cardinals play their cards right,” King told Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat Tuesday morning. “I think Arizona’s a place that…just reading the tea leaves…I think he would love to go to Arizona…I think Arizona’s a perfect spot for him.”
King warned he has no “inside information” on Peterson’s future home but knows Bruce Arians’ high-powered passing attack, coupled with the future Hall-of-Famer’s running style would be a perfect complement to one another.
He also knows the Dallas Cowboys and Peterson have had eyes for one another for quite some time. Jerry Jones has a decision to make with his own former star Sooner running back. DeMarco Murray who, at the age of 27, is a couple of years younger than Peterson and coming off a career year of 1,845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
King believes the Vikings will ask for a first-round pick in return for Peterson but the price tag appears steep for a player of his age and his large contract.
It’s apparent shrewd Cardinals’ general manager Steve Keim realizes Arizona’s Super Bowl window is now.
Adding a player of Peterson’s caliber would make the quest much more attainable.
