Vikings, Peterson talking again

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS

The Minnesota Vikings have been trying to take advantage of their opportunity to communicate with Adrian Peterson.

General manager Rick Spielman said Monday the organization has had “open dialogue” with the star running back since the NFL tabled his suspension and returned him to the special exempt list. That’s where Peterson spent much of the 2014 season, essentially paid leave, while the child abuse case he was involved in played out in court.

The league made that move Thursday after U.S. District Judge David Doty overruled the arbitrator who denied Peterson’s appeal. Under the parameters of his suspension, the Vikings weren’t allowed to have any direct contact with Peterson. Now they’re able to, for the time being. That’s critical with the NFL’s transactions period starting March 10. Peterson will turn 30 five days later.

If the Vikings are going to keep him, they need to assess his feelings about staying. If he’s not interested, they’d likely try to trade him to receive some compensation for an elite player rather than release him for no return. But any team dealing for Peterson would need to have significant salary cap space.

“We are able to have communication now with Adrian. We’ll keep all those communications internal. I don’t want to sit here and give you guys a blow by blow every day,” Spielman told reporters at the University of Minnesota pro day workout that was attended by more than a dozen people from the organization. “I think it’s been very clearly stated that we want Adrian Peterson back. There’s no question about the talent.”