Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson Wants To Stay In Minnesota For Good

The words that all Minnesota Vikings fans want to hear is that Adrian Peterson wants to finish his football career in Minnesota, but he is well aware that if the Vikings would ever want to trade him any team “would welcome me with open arms.”

Nov 7, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Redskins 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Peterson signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension in September 2011, his agent, Ben Dogra, told the Associated Press the running back “wanted to finish his career with the Minnesota Vikings.”

“I definitely wouldn’t mind playing here,” he told the Pioneer Press. “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 stronger. … So, no, (I don’t want to go anywhere else).”

But Peterson knows being traded is a possibility. There has been some speculation that the Vikings might want to trade him for draft picks to start possible rebuilding.

“I understand that,” Peterson said. “I know this is a business and things like that happen. So if it happens, it happens. There’s not much I can’t handle. I’m sure someone will welcome me with open arms if they do decide to trade me. … But it’s a business, so if they trade me, then, hey.”

But trading Peterson would be a huge determent to the Vikings. Last year he rushed for 2,097 yards which is the second most in NFL history and he averaged 6 yards a carry. That helped the Vikings go to 10-6 and made the playoffs.

And this year he has rushed for 786 yards, with 4.5 per carry. While that is not up to last year’s standards, AP is still one of the best and to trade him would do more harm than good.

“Rebuilding” of any kind needs to done around AP. If the Vikings can stabilize their offensive line that might be the shot in the arm that Peterson and the team needs.

Many will say once a running back gets closer to 30 (Peterson is 28, he will turn 29 in March) the yards get harder to gain because your body starts to slow down. But Peterson still has some gas left in the tank.