Adrian Peterson might want to go home once he’s done wearing Minnesota Vikings purple.
Peterson, a Texas native, reportedly is interested in playing for the Dallas Cowboys. According to ESPN “Outside the Lines,” the All-Pro running back told Cowboys owner Jerry Jones he wants to play for the team after his contract with the Vikings expires.
Peterson and Jones spoke over the phone in June about the idea, according to ESPN. Jones sounded receptive to it.
“Well, I understand, Adrian,” Jones told Peterson. “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.”
Jones and Peterson continued the conversation, and Jones further professed to Peterson in working something out at some point.
“Well, we’ll see what we can do, if we can make that happen,” Jones told the running back, according to ESPN. “Hmm hmm … I’d like that, too … Well, we’re talking pig Latin here, but let’s see if we can do that … We’re talking pig Latin here, but let’s see what we can do about that. OK, Adrian, thanks.”
The NFL’s rules on tampering are clear. When a player under contract contacts another team, the contacted team “must immediately report such contract to the owner of operating head of the club which holds the player’s rights.”
The Vikings had no response to the story, according to ESPN. Peterson is entering the fourth year of a seven-year, $100 million contract.
UPDATE (3:45 p.m.): Jones confirmed to ESPN that Peterson told him he’d like to play for the Cowboys, although the running back denies he said that.
“This was a casual conversation between NFL colleagues in which I never indicated I wanted to leave the Vikings,” Peterson said in a statement to ESPN. “I have always said I understand the NFL is a business but that I would love to retire as a Viking.”
Jones said he hasn’t spoken to Peterson since June and doesn’t consider their conversation to be tampering.
