Adrian Peterson: 'I'll let it ride'

[NDVikeFan]

This AP calling Jones story will be another overblown story like ESPN did with the Michael Sam Shower crap they pulled.

Be cool though if The NFL got Jones for Tampering. Lol

[Mothman]

I will cut him a bit of a break because I can see things from his perspective (I think). I'm clearly a huge Vikings fan. If I was drafted by the Packers (assuming my skin wouldn't burn the first time I put on the jersey) I'd love the opportunity to, at some point in my career, play for the team I loved growing up. That would obviously enrage a lot of Packer fans, which would be awesome. I think that's a natural thing. From what I understand, Peterson was/is a Cowboys fan from birth. I think AD has been a great/loyal Viking throughout his career.

Well said. Almost anyone would probably like to play for the team they grew up following but let's not forget that Peterson just said he'd love to finish his career for the Vikings and play for just one team.

I'll probably be blasted for saying this but what we have here is yet another example of why context matters. We didn't hear the phone call and we didn't hear a word Peterson said to Jones. We have a reporter, who heard one side of a conversation, reporting that the biggest Cowboys fan in the world, one of the more egomaniacal owners in sports, while intoxicated, spoke to Adrian Peterson and says Peterson told him he wants to play for his team (according to Siefert's piece, at the end of Peterson's tenure with the Vikings). That may be exactly what happened but even if it is, it doesn't bother me at all.

For what it's worth, here's the section of the article about Jones that pertains to Peterson:

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_ ... otball-man

SOMETIMES A RIVERBOAT gambler doesn't need to be smart. He just needs to be lucky.

Long after George Strait's last bow after his final song, Jones is behind his suite's long bar, splashing Johnnie Walker Blue (about $200 per bottle) into a few of his guests' plastic Cowboys cups. It's coming up on midnight. Tipsy and waving his arms, he begins gushing about the stadium's splendor: Five years now, can ya believe it? He points at the floor. "Go downstairs -- you'll see the floors are clean ... pristine." He lets that last word hang there a moment. "They'll pick up garbage -- that's how much people love this place."

Then a man taps Jones on the shoulder, says Adrian Peterson wants to say hello and hands over an iPhone. Jones says hi to the Minnesota Vikings' star running back and listens, nodding but not smiling. "Well, I understand, Adrian," he says into the phone. The slanted smile returns. "I'd like that, too. ... Well, I love your story. I love your daddy's story. I've always respected what you've been about. I've always been a fan of yours."

Listening to half the conversation, it is obvious Peterson is telling Jones he wants to play for the Cowboys. Peterson, 29, is in the fourth year of a seven-year, $100 million contract that will pay him $11.75 million this autumn to play for the Vikings.

"Well, we'll see what we can do, if we can make that happen," Jones is now saying. "Hmm-hmm. ... I'd like that, too. ... Well, we're talking pig Latin here, but let's see if we can do that." Jones listens, nods and says again, "We're talking pig Latin here, but let's see what we can do about that. OK, Adrian, thanks."

Jones returns the phone to its owner, who turns out to be a Morgan Stanley money manager who is a friend of Peterson's. Jones' conversation with the league's marquee running back occurs about a month after Jones decided to pass on Johnny Football.

Adrian Peterson would make one helluva consolation prize.

[NDVikeFan]

Ok I watched the Video first and now read more.

This doesn't bother me at all as Adrian said at the end of his Vikings tenure, which the Video didn't state. That's 4 seasons away. Like I said its ESPN stirring up stuff for clicks and views.

Move along everyone.

[Mothman]

Ok I watched the Video first and now read more.

This doesn't bother me at all as Adrian said at the end of his Vikings tenure, which the Video didn't state. That's 4 seasons away. Like I said its ESPN stirring up stuff for clicks and views.

That's exactly what it is...

[Dirtyswabby]

Sorry, AD has been my son and I's favorite player. I remember being in Hawaii and begging the Vikings while watching the draft to draft AD. I understand the cowboys are his favorite team. I just wish he would keep his damn mouth shut about how he wants to play for them. Ill chill out about it, I just think is kind of a dick move to keep saying it.

[S197]

I think a likely scenario is AD was upset with the front office after the firing of Frazier and carried that into the offseason. His recent comments seem to indicate he's really warmed up to Zim and Turner and is also indicative that he realizes the move needed to be done so maybe where he is today is different than where he felt the franchise was back in June.

Or these are the early cracks in a crumbling relationship (i.e. Percy Harvin). Only time will tell. Wins will help too, the good thing is this isn't a contract year or even near it so if/when AD hits the market, hopefully Zimmer and crew will have cemented their roles here and he'll have a lot of incentive to stay.

[Texas Vike]

I think a likely scenario is AD was upset with the front office after the firing of Frazier and carried that into the offseason. His recent comments seem to indicate he's really warmed up to Zim and Turner and is also indicative that he realizes the move needed to be done so maybe where he is today is different than where he felt the franchise was back in June.

Or these are the early cracks in a crumbling relationship (i.e. Percy Harvin). Only time will tell. Wins will help too, the good thing is this isn't a contract year or even near it so if/when AD hits the market, hopefully Zimmer and crew will have cemented their roles here and he'll have a lot of incentive to stay.

I think it's the former. The concert was on June 7th, so it would fit with that timeline and likely scenario. This is a non-story; ESPN just doing what they do: yellow journalism.

[Mothman]

Sorry, AD has been my son and I's favorite player. I remember being in Hawaii and begging the Vikings while watching the draft to draft AD. I understand the cowboys are his favorite team. I just wish he would keep his damn mouth shut about how he wants to play for them. Ill chill out about it, I just think is kind of a dick move to keep saying it.

If he said it at all, he didn't say it to anyone who should have repeated it. Keep in mind, it's not like he said this publicly, to a reporter. If it was reportedly said in what he probably assumed was a private phone call.

[dead_poet]

@TomPelissero -- Adrian Peterson on ESPN/Jerry Jones report: "This was a casual conversation ... in which I never indicated I wanted to leave the Vikings." "I have always said I understand the NFL is a business but that I would love to retire as a Viking."

[PsyDanny]

I think a likely scenario is AD was upset with the front office after the firing of Frazier and carried that into the offseason. His recent comments seem to indicate he's really warmed up to Zim and Turner and is also indicative that he realizes the move needed to be done so maybe where he is today is different than where he felt the franchise was back in June.

I think you hit the nail squarely on the head and driven firmly into the 2x4.

Anyone who has followed AD's comments regarding the coaching transition will note that he was displeased. At first. But he has also said he like what he sees in the new coaching regiem, that it is good for the team, and that he has bought into it. His more recent statements reflect both a re-commitment to his personal game, and now the comments saying he would like to retire a Viking.

I like where he "ended up"!

[dead_poet]

Inside Slant: Adrian Peterson's future

Though Peterson is the game's highest-paid running back in 2014 with a $12 million salary, he is essentially in a rolling deal with no future guarantees. As the chart shows, if the Vikings released him after this season, he would count just $2.4 million against their salary cap.

Put it all together and you have a player who should recognize that his future with the Vikings, at least at his current pay scale, is year-to-year. If his production decreases in 2014, will the Vikings want to pay him $13 million in 2015? That salary dwarfs the running back market, which is at an all-time nadir. In 2015, the average running back salary will be $1.3 million. Peterson would be one of only two running backs making as much as $8 million.

I can't say for sure that Peterson has contemplated that scenario yet, but I would bet the house that his advisors have. Peterson grew up in Texas, and if there is any owner who would overpay an aging running back for entertainment value, it's Jerry Jones.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/ ... ons-future

[Raptorman]

Not worried about it. If anyone is in trouble it is Jones. He as supposed to let the Vikings know about the phone call and he know it. Peterson. If he finishes put his contract great. If not, fine. At this point RB by committee seems to be the new NFL norm anyway.

[Texas Vike]

Not worried about it. If anyone is in trouble it is Jones. He as supposed to let the Vikings know about the phone call and he know it. Peterson. If he finishes put his contract great. If not, fine. At this point RB by committee seems to be the new NFL norm anyway.

Actually, come to think of it this way, I have to wonder if someone doesn't have it in for Jerry. This is the second controversial thing that has come out in the press in the past month.

[Purple Reign]

This really gets under my skin, the vikings have been nothing but fair to AP, they gave him a mega contract, made hm the face of the Franchise. I am beyond irate that he would call Jerry Jones. Seriously I feel like that is a serious stab in the back. I guess if you have to play for a #### team might as well be your home team? "I want to win a championship" So he wants to go and join a team that wont be winning one while Jones is in charge.

It's been a while, but the Cowboys and Jones won back to back Super Bowls in the '92 and '93 seasons.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I hope the Cowboys take AD up on what he really wants, to retire as a Cowboy. There are some things you can take back as saying, then try covering it up by saying something else. For the next few years, I hope he breaks all the records and gets a shot at the SB. When he leaves, im very fine with that.