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Despite the bad blood that has brewed between the Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson, it appears the superstar running back is willing to put it all aside in order to test the waters.
Peterson will re-join the Vikings for optional organized team activities on Tuesday. The fact that he has decided to emerge is already a sign of good to come. On top of that, if all goes well, the Vikings will finally get the piece to the puzzle they desperately need in order to have any sort of success in 2015.
“I’m returning because I want to. I’m a part of this football team and I owe it to the guys I play with and to our coaches,” Peterson wrote in an email to ESPN. “I was planning on coming in this week, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the field. It’s what I love to do.”
Since Peterson was reinstated by the league, there have been words said about him being selfish. He wanted certain assurances from Minnesota that the organization was not willing to give. Of course, if he was not indicted by a Texas grand jury on child abuse charges, maybe he would not have had any issues stemming from the guaranteed money his contract said he was owed.
Peterson’s statement in an email proves he is once again willing to be the leader of the Vikings. Even though it has widely been known Peterson and his agent believed he would be better off playing somewhere else, the truth is Minnesota is where he belongs. He helped put the team back on the map, and it would be a shame if he could not aid them in getting back to the postseason.
Many believe the Vikings have the potential to be one of the surprise teams in the NFL in 2015. The only way that is possible is if Peterson is able to be productive in offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s scheme.
“I know what kind of offense Norv Turner runs, and this year there was a lot of production out of the shotgun formation with the passing game and the running game,” Peterson said. “I feel like I bring a different dynamic to the back end and with that it will allow for different formations to be presented that will allow the quarterback to be comfortable.”
Peterson showing up for OTAs is more than a step in the right direction. It single-handedly gives the team a major boost of confidence two weeks before training camp begins. The hope is it snowballs into a success that can be transitioned to the regular season as soon as Week 1 starts in September.
