While running backs struggled to find big-money offers on the free agent market this offseason, Vikings star Adrian Peterson remains the highest-paid player at the position as he enters the third season of a long-term deal that will pay him $12MM this year. Tom Pelissero of USA Today spoke to Peterson about a variety of topics, including the new coaching staff in Minnesota and his goals for the upcoming season, but many of the running back’s most interesting comments related to his role with the Vikings and his future in the NFL. While the entire Q&A is worth checking out, we’ll round up a few of Peterson’s more notable quotes below….
On being one of the few longtime Vikings standouts still in Minnesota after the offseason departures of Jared Allen and Kevin Williams:
“We’re just kind of going through that phase. They say the NFL is a revolving door. … Ultimately, the organization is going to do what they feel is best for their team. If that’s going younger or trying to save money, that’s what it boils down to, no matter what type of talent you are. It’s really the unfortunate part of the business, but I’m blessed to still be around, and hopefully, it doesn’t happen to me one day. If it does, then, oh well. I’ll go on and do something different with my career.”
On whether durability is becoming a concern as Peterson approaches age 30:
“I feel I have longevity. There’s things that I know personally I could’ve done better to try to prevent some of the injuries that occurred the last two years — especially last year, because towards the end of the season, that’s when it really started to break down. I’ve been able to kind of focus on those areas as far as the healing process this year and kind of like backdoor-ing what I missed out on last year as far as strengthening the area that kind of triggered the surgery I had to have, the adductor release. But I feel like I’m going to play this game as long as I can. I came back from my ACL injury and won MVP. So, what’s a groin? What’s an adductor? That’s how I look at things. I feel like if you just continue to take care of your body, working out, making sure you’re in shape and you stay on top of your game, you can play as long as you want.”
On whether he thinks he’ll be with the Vikings long enough for the team to become a Super Bowl caliber club:
“I don’t see why not. But then again, I know it’s a business at the end of the day. I won’t ever be blinded by that, when I hear different talks of this trade or that trade. Would you have ever traded Percy Harvin? … I wouldn’t have. I would have been like, ‘You’re just going to sit here and I’ll pay you, but you’re not going nowhere else.’ But he got traded. So, you never know. I’m always looking at things in different lights — not saying that I would want that. But if it was to happen, I’ve had a good time here. People will know that this guy gave his heart for this organization. I think the organization would take a heavy hit – for real – more so from the fan base. I don’t think it would be like a LeBron (James) situation where they’re burning my jersey, this, that and the other. They might be doing (the opposite) and not buying some season tickets.