Despite missing 15 games of last season due to a domestic violence incident, Adrian Peterson will remain with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings signed the running back earlier this week with a restructured contract that will pay him a bit less over the next three years. That deal includes which would determine if Peterson would stay on with the club or not for 2016 or 2017, less worries and a more visible direction.
Peterson has of course gone through tough times but the thing is, the Vikings knows how important Peterson’s role is in Minnesota. As coach Mike Zimmer puts it, the new restructured contract is beneficial for both them and Peterson.
As far as the contract is concerned, the only thing the seemed to benefit the Vikings was slightly cheaper paycheck owed to Peterson. That and of course the agony of having to wait if the running back wants to return to the club or not in the succeeding years.
Peterson arrived at the Minnesota State University last Saturday and apparently the fans who were on hand let him know that they want him around and are still throwing their full support.
"It felt good, it's a good feeling ... I'm focused on looking forward, but it's comforting, you know, definitely a good feeling to know that people do have your back," Peterson told reporters
After playing only one regular season-game in the past 20 months, there was a bit of uncertainty in the air as Peterson thought that he was no longer needed in Minnesota. In fact his domestic violence issue tied up with child-injury charges clouded his mind which in all made him ponder on whether he would still be welcome in the Vikings’ fold.
All that were of course cleared up when he and the Vikings restructured his contract but it seems that the chants from the fans upon his arrival to training camp was more than able to erase those questions he had in mind.
The Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the first teams to start training camp and will face each other at the Pro Football Hall of Fame tiff set for August 9.
But before that, Peterson will have to regain his old form to prove once again why he is considered as one of the NFL’s best running backs.
Entering a new season, Peterson seems to be pumped and ready as he prepares to join hands with second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the rest of the Vikings.
Aside from all the anxiety Peterson also has something new heading into the season – a brand new tattoo which he shared via Twitter.