The Vikings are 2-7. Adrian Peterson, one year removed from almost breaking the NFL’s single-season rushing record, is mired behind a struggling offensive line on a team with plenty of other holes.
Trade time? A lot of people are thinking it.
But Peterson, in his seventh season with Minnesota and having signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension two seasons ago, says he’s fine sticking with the Vikes until they right the ship. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what would happen if another team wanted him, though.
“I’m sure someone will welcome me with open arms if they do decide to trade me,” he told the Pioneer Press. “… I definitely wouldn’t mind playing here. I feel like we have the right pieces, and we can continue to get some more pieces as well to help build this team and make us even strong. … But it’s a business, so if they trade me, then, hey.”
Peterson is just a few years away from when running backs usually start their sudden decline, and although he’s shown that his body is in otherworldly shape, coming back from his ACL tear in record time, wanting to play for a contender — or at least a team that can make the most of his talent — has to be on the All-Pro’s mind. Peterson wouldn’t direct blame for Minnesota’s struggles this season to any specific player or group, though.
“I think they’re doing a good job,” he said of the offensive line. “There’s so much we all have to improve on, and each week we’re trying to improve. … We just got into a few games where as an offense we got into a funk.”
Peterson has 9,635 career rushing yards and is on pace for his sixth 1,000-yard rushing season. He has said he thinks he can break the major NFL rushing records after nearly taking down the single-season mark last season.
