When will we see AP back in a Vikings uniform?

[Pepper2Moss]

Can this topic be posted and have a civil discussion on what you think is the future with the Vikings franchise running back? I'm hoping everyone can keep their feelings in check towards what happened, and have an honest discussion on what you feel is going to happen in the upcoming weeks regarding Peterson's future with the team.

My best case scenario is that they settle in court on Oct 8th. With week 6 looming, he gets a suspension in the neighborhood of 4-6 weeks & is able to finish out the season.

Worst case involves a long trial where he sits out the entire season, the trial is brought a ton of coverage in the offseason with nothing else happening around the league, he gets a huge suspension, and is cut before the 2015 season.

[PacificNorseWest]

I think he'll be back later this year.

[chicagopurple]

1. He is aging
2. He is a HUGE financial commitment that is not wise according to the current NFL standards. No other team put the majority of its spending into a RB. The game is now pass oriented and a RB just isnt that critical.
3. Statistically the team has done nearly as well in the 12 games he has missed in terms of winning percentage.
4. The team already has a horrible record in the community in terms of legal troubles from players with criminal tendencies.
5. He has broken his contract with behavior that damages the team, giving the Vikes a way out.

Therefore, I think they will part ways........

But, HEY, Wilf & Co. has proven to often be out of touch, confused, etc so who knows, maybe they keep him and watch his performance slide while paying a kings ransom for the next 6 yrs....you never know.

[The Breeze]

I think if this were 5 years ago he'd get a multi-game suspension and a buttload of community service centered around raising awareness for kids. But because of the whole, and much deserved, scrutiny the NFL is under he will be made a high profile example of and be lost for the year to suspension.

Assuming there's a conviction. I have no Idea what will happen if he's found not guilty.....that might actually create some further weirdness.

[Mothman]

My gut says never but I've been hoping all along for a much better outcome than that for all concerned. In the current political climate surrounding the NFL (ie: with teams, corporations, sponsors, and the league itself all scrambling to do "what's right" and seemingly basing their idea of "what's right" almost exclusively on which way they feel public opinion is leaning), I'm not optimistic that Peterson will ever play another down for the Vikes.

I seriously doubt he'll play this season. even if gets a settlement in October, I'm thinking he will be hit hard with a suspension, perhaps one that will keep him off the field until 2015.

If the Vikings do decide to keep him around, it might be best if he didn't play until 2015 anyway. The furor over his actions and his case may have died down by then and people may be more inclined to forgive him, especially if his actions between now and then encourage people to give him a second chance.

[Pseudo Everything]

I think his Viking career is over. He'll be released sometime after his trial (or a plea arrangement). No, we will not be able to trade him. Anyone interested in signing him will wait until he's released. His new contract will be less than half what it currently is.

The Wilfs are not going to do anything that will adversely impact their ability to sell PSLs. After badly misjudging the public's reaction to reactivating him, I don't think they will want to take a second bite at the apple. I'm sure they'll do extensive polling to test market reaction and I suspect the best outcome is where season ticket holders are split but the public at large is decidedly against it.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I'm pretty sure he is done as a Vikings. And that's kind of sad. He gave us some great moments as a Viking.

I am hoping the front office can get something for him, instead of just releasing him.

[Cliff]

Vikings will release him. No team will touch him this year. Next year after everything cools off he'll be on another team.

[losperros]

I'm thinking Peterson is done as a Viking for the reasons already given by others here.

If AD comes back next year, it will be with a different team and a lower salary. His age will work against him and the depreciation of the RB position in the NFL won't help either.

[soflavike]

I never count him out or underestimate what he can do as a football player. He will be back and he will still be highly productive, but not in purple.

[Raptorman]

Good question. Let me put a few things out there for people to think about. First, no matter what happens in the case, the NFL has a big problem. The Commish has come out with a new personal conduct policy that states first time offenders will get a 6 game suspension. I would be surprised if the commish went farther than 6 games. It would mean that his PCP and his word is worthless. He would lose any trust left that he may have with the NFLPA and the players. In essence, he would be done. So he is in a tight spot on this one. If Peterson takes a plea deal before his Oct hearing, and he can, the commish would have to act on it within a very short time period. So he could be eligible to play before the end of the year. That is were it will become interesting. At what point will people accept him back, if they do at all.

And if you go back to the Ray Rice indefinite suspension, I fully expect that to be overturned before Peterson's case comes up before the commish.

[sonicology]

I'm pretty sure he is done as a Vikings.

This.

And that's kind of sad. He gave us some great moments as a Viking.

And That.

This whole situation is really sad

[Mothman]

Good question. Let me put a few things out there for people to think about. First, no matter what happens in the case, the NFL has a big problem. The Commish has come out with a new personal conduct policy that states first time offenders will get a 6 game suspension. I would be surprised if the commish went farther than 6 games. It would mean that his PCP and his word is worthless. He would lose any trust left that he may have with the NFLPA and the players. In essence, he would be done. So he is in a tight spot on this one. If Peterson takes a plea deal before his Oct hearing, and he can, the commish would have to act on it within a very short time period. So he could be eligible to play before the end of the year. That is were it will become interesting. At what point will people accept him back, if they do at all.

And if you go back to the Ray Rice indefinite suspension, I fully expect that to be overturned before Peterson's case comes up before the commish.

You make some interesting points but Goodell is in the process of revisiting the league's personal conduct policy and he said 'nothing is off the table" so while the current max suspension for first time offenders in domestic violence-related cases is 6 games, by the time Peterson faces punishment from the league, it could be more or it could be something determined purely on a case-by-case basis. When asked about Peterson during hiuis press conference the other day. Goodell said "What we see so far is tragic." and stressed that he wanted the facts to fully come out in the case.

Peterson's case is unique so I could see leniency or extremely harsh punishment being applied. It's hard to say. Depending on how his case turns out, how repentant he is in the coming weeks and months, and what steps he takes to make up for what he did, it could go either way. I think, as in the case of Vick, there are people who will never forgive him. I also think there are a lot of people who may see him as more of a tragic, misguided figure in all of this and who would be more willing to forgive him. In the end, it's possible the Vikings may not want to touch him with the proverbial ten foot pole. This may be stating the obvious but I believe where this ends up really depends a great deal on what takes place from here.

If the Vikings did want him back, and wanted to reduce his cap hit, they would certainly be in a good position to convince him to renegotiate his contract.

Oh, and if Peterson does become eligible to play before the end of this season, you're right, the Vikings will face a VERY interesting choice, especially if they're in position to make a playoff push.

[PurpleMustReign]

I would love for him to come back. While what he did was appalling, I think he is getting a very raw deal by many people out there. I think he is sincerely sorry for what he did, very much like Jared Allen when he came here with a reputation of DUI's, etc. AD is a smart man, I don't think he will have this issue again.
He isn't like other backs that have played. HE has already proven that he is different.
My hope is that he will retire in Purple after helping the Vikings to a Super Bowl victory.

[J. Kapp 11]

Here's what I don't understand. Why are the Vikings still paying him if they're eventually going to release him? They could have suspended him and saved a million dollars a week.

I'd appreciate y'all's responses on this. I'm stumped.