Petersons future speculation.

[MichViking]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... g-murkier/
Interesting read...probably true.

[Eli]

In a couple of years the only reason to keep him around and pay that stupid amount of money will be as a marketing tool to sell tickets in the new stadium. I could see that happening for a year, possibly even two. Then they'll ask him to take a pay cut (by at least 50%), but I have a sneaking feeling that won't sit well with him.

What I would hate to see is the Vikings #### it up so badly that Peterson retires before he wants to. Much like the current Kevin Williams situation. They may be forced to cut Peterson when he fails to accept a pay cut, then he'll likely be unwilling to play for anyone else at what the league thinks a running back is worth. And that will be the end of that.

[Funkytown]

IF he gets pouty when it's time to restructure, then losing him won't hurt as badly. We'll see how much staying a Viking means to him. If it doesn't matter to him, it doesn't matter to me. Team > individual. I'd love to find a way to keep him, though. And more importantly, win with him.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I like Mike Florio (he is also a Vikings fan coincidently), but I think this article is a tad premature and grasping. I don't believe that Zygi Wilf nor Rick Spielman are going to let Peterson go anywhere. Peterson will be in purple once our stadium opens. After our initial opening season in the new stadium, we will see what the future holds. However, the team knows it needs Peterson on the roster to ensure ticket sales stay steady - regardless of how the team is preforming.

[majorm]

I'm really tiring of all the speculation about AD's future when he's still the best back in the league. Why does everybody seem to feel that he's right on the doorstep of being a washed up has-been?

He's proven time and again that he is a physical freak. He had a few nagging things last year that slowed him down a bit but he was hardly a shell of his former self. He had a very solid season that just seemed sub-par when compared to the previous one. Which I might remind all may have been the best season for a RB ever considering defenses didn't have to worry about much other than him.

Barring some unforeseen serious injury that is always a danger for a RB no matter the mileage, I have no doubt he'll be his usual devastating self this season and for several more to come. And I do hope the Vikings have an effective passing attack that we'll make it unnecessary for AD to carry the team on his back any longer.

How about we wait until he actually starts to LOOK like he's done before we start thinking of how we can dump him!

[Mothman]

I'm really tiring of all the speculation about AD's future when he's still the best back in the league. Why does everybody seem to feel that he's right on the doorstep of being a washed up has-been?

Honestly, I think a lot of it, especially stuff like Mike Florio's speculation above, is just click farming.

He's proven time and again that he is a physical freak. He had a few nagging things last year that slowed him down a bit but he was hardly a shell of his former self. He had a very solid season that just seemed sub-par when compared to the previous one. Which I might remind all may have been the best season for a RB ever considering defenses didn't have to worry about much other than him.

Barring some unforeseen serious injury that is always a danger for a RB no matter the mileage, I have no doubt he'll be his usual devastating self this season and for several more to come. And I do hope the Vikings have an effective passing attack that we'll make it unnecessary for AD to carry the team on his back any longer.

How about we wait until he actually starts to LOOK like he's done before we start thinking of how we can dump him!

[Eli]

I'm really tiring of all the speculation about AD's future when he's still the best back in the league.

Why? It's what you do when your team wins just five games and has to go into rebuilding mode for the second times in just three years.

Why does everybody seem to feel that he's right on the doorstep of being a washed up has-been?

Nobody is saying anything of the sort. As he approaches 30, though, the question becomes one of how long Peterson may want to stick around with the Vikings when they have little chance of winning without a QB and a passing offense. And on the other end, whether the Vikings are actually willing to pay him nearly twice what he should be making while at the same time realizing that he can no longer carry the entire offense. The combination makes for a LOT of speculation.

[VikeMike]

The article is simple speculation and the worst type of sports "journalism." Actually, it's a mistake to call it that. The only facts in there were the salary amounts. The rest is someone drumming up web hits.