Adrian Peterson is so disappointed in the NFL’s handling of his disciplinary process that he would consider retirement. During a interview with ESPN the runningback shares his thoughts on life outside of football.
“I’ve considered retiring from the NFL,” Peterson said.
“I still made $8 million dollars this year. I’ve thought about getting back into the real estate (business in Texas) I’m already in. That’s something I’ve been interested in, something I’m involved in. I’ve thought about getting back into that.
I’ve thought about going after the Olympics — you only live once. It might be time for me to pursue that, as well. I love playing football, don’t get me wrong, but this situation is deeper than that.
For me, it’s like, ‘Why should I continue to be a part of an organization or a business that handles players the way they do? Making money off the field anyway, why not continue to pursue that (Olympic) dream and pursue other dreams and hang up the cleats?'”
Peterson on walking away from the game.
“Of course I’d miss it. It’s my first love. But the reason I would be walking away from it would be (if the next steps in the process) kind of solidify that hurt from these incidents.
I would know that, ‘Hey, you’re walking away not because you’ve given up. You’re walking away because they’re handling you all the way wrong in this situation. They’re painting you out to be a guy that you’re not.”
When seeing his son during a session with his counselor.
“He was running to me, and he jumped in my arms,” Peterson said. “I know the counselor is thinking, ‘This is not what I expected.’ The kid jumped in my arms. He was rubbing my head, pulling me to go play with him.”
