Adrian Peterson is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best, running backs in the NFL since 2000. Priest Holmes, Shaun Alexander, Jamal Lewis, Chris Johnson, Frank Gore, LaDainian Tomlinson and Steven Jackson all made names for themselves in the past decade and a half but none have done it like Adrian Peterson.
The reality is, father time rules us all and the Vikings are a squad with younger parts and keeping a 32-year-old running back was seemingly not in their plans. The end of Peterson’s time with the Minnesota Vikings came after a 2016 campaign that was cut short due to injury and the team declined their option on him. The former NFL MVP hit the open market this offseason and took his time to decide on what team he would join for possibly the last leg of his career. He had meetings with some top franchises like the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks and was also connected to the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans and even his hometown Dallas Cowboys were considered an option at one point or another.
Peterson also met with the New Orleans Saints, a team some considered as dark horse candidate to sign him. But just about 10 days after his meeting with the team in NOLA, Adrian Peterson made it known he was going to join Drew Brees, Mark Ingram and Sean Payton with the Saints next season.
Following comes from Josina Anderson of ESPN.
Adrian Peterson tells me he plans to sign with the #Saints on a 2 yr deal, effectively a (1 + 1op) term worth a base value of $7M. (Cont.)
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 25, 2017
Terms Peterson told me he's agreed to at this point. 2017 compensation: $3.5M (all guaranteed at signing) {$1M G-salary in '17 and $2.5M SB}
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 25, 2017
Peterson's says max incentives pkg at this time = $8.25M b/w ’17-’18. Incentives reached in ’17 added to the per game roster bonuses in ’18.
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 25, 2017
Peterson says 2018 compensation is $3.5M (none of which is guaranteed). {$2.4M in total roster bonuses ( (cont) https://t.co/BZYXW42ISX
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 25, 2017
RB Adrian Peterson's statement to me on the #Saints: “I am excited to be joining the New Orleans Saints. I’m (cont) https://t.co/ti4UlXxPMF
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 25, 2017
The All-Pro and potential Hall of Fame back has been through some troubles in his career, most notably missing all but one game of the 2014 season due to child abuse allegations and only playing in three games last season due to his torn meniscus. But when he is on the field, there’s no doubt he’s among the best to ever do it. Quite possibly his best accomplishment came in 2012 when he finished with 2,097 rushing yards, the second-most in a single season in NFL history and one of seven players to eclipse that 2,000 yards rushing number in a single season. Since then, only one player, DeMarco Murray in 2014, has rushed for over 1,750 yards in a season.
