Zimmer's comments on Adrian Peterson sound supportive -- but also noncommittal

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer had his end-of-year news conference Tuesday. As is the case every week, we found ourselves enjoying Zimmer's style — whether we were there in person, watching on a live stream or merely reading a transcript — while also looking for opportunities to read between the lines with a coach who is pretty blunt but also can be guarded when he wants to be.

There was plenty of interesting stuff today — you can watch it here — but of course the headline-grabbing stuff was about Adrian Peterson. Here is the transcript of the first three questions and answers on the subject of Peterson, along with what we think each means:

Q: Regardless of the economic factors and maybe even political factors, do you want Adrian Peterson back on this team?

A: Well as I've said many, many times Adrian was always great with me. I think he's a good person, I think, obviously, he's a great running back. If it works out that way, and things work out, and he gets his life in order – that's the most important thing, he gets his life in order – he gets the opportunity to come back then I will be in his corner whatever the decision is made.

To us, Zimmer is setting up a lot of wiggle room here. While clearly supporting Peterson from a personal standpoint and making it clear he would welcome AP back on the team, the phrases "if it works out that way, and things work out" … and … "whatever the decision is made" represent just how fluid the situation really is.

Q: Do you believe he still adds value to the team?

A: I think he'd add value to any team to be honest with you. I think the kid's a heck of a football player. I was just watching our offensive tape, I was starting to go back right now with evaluating our players and I started with the offense in St. Louis. There's a good recollection on my mind right now of him.

Q: When do you need to have that settled from an organizational standpoint?

A: Part of it is our hands are partly tied with the NFL and what the timeframe that they give us but also it's partly up to Adrian and make sure he's doing what he has to do in order to get back, reinstated off the suspension. Those are all factors that we have to factor in. We would love to know ASAP just so that we can start going. You know a guy like him, your football team and offense can be different if you have him and if you don't have him. It's how you want to build the team around him, at least in my opinion anyway. I haven't talked to Rick about a lot of these questions that you're asking yet because we just finished the season but we'll sit down and we'll visit about all of this.