There is a nagging suspicion that Adrian Peterson, even as he approaches 30 in a month, is primed for a strong 2015 season. Peterson has always been best when motivated (see: his rookie year of 2007 after getting passed over in the draft and 2012, coming off the major knee injury), and this year he has the added benefit of rest.
(The counter-argument is that rest=rust and Peterson might not be in prime shape, but it's a long time between now and September).
The practical Vikings fan might think, "If Peterson has 1 or 2 more good-to-great years left in him, it sure would be nice if they were in purple instead of another uniform." With Teddy Bridgewater on a rookie contract, the Vikings aren't paying their QB much and could theoretically afford to keep a running back with a very high cap number.
Another bit of logic — and history, since it happened with Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper and Percy Harvin — suggests that once a relationship sours between the Vikings and a player, the next course of action is to part ways.
This might be a relationship damaged beyond repair on both sides. The Vikings are probably still uneasy about some of the public relations battle that would ensue by bringing Peterson back. Peterson — who brought all of this on himself, let's not forget — is battling through a perceived slight from the Vikings because they apparently didn't stand by him 100 percent as he faced scrutiny for whipping his young son.
Right and wrong is not hard to discern here, but it doesn't matter much. Peterson's stance gives the Vikings the "out" they quite possibly wanted anyway. It might make trading him a little harder, but it could make their decision even easier.
And maybe, as crazy as this would have sounded at this time last year, the two sides are simply better off moving on from each other.
P.S.: KG is with the Wolves, Torii Hunter is with the Twins and Peterson could soon be gone from the Vikings. Just another reminder to never say never.
