All Day or Yesterday?
All Day was the nickname given to him when he took the league by storm. Adrian Peterson burst into the National football league like he was hitting a running lane. Arguably the best running back of the current generation, but has his name changed?
Is it more like Yesterday, as opposed to the all-day name he was given?
The former Sooner and all-time great, is now 32 years old and finds himself team-less and coming off yet another knee injury. Last year he played in just two games after blowing his knee out in September. Once he recovered from surgery and a short stint on the injured reserve, Peterson made his way back to the field trying to push the Vikings into the final playoff spot with just two weeks left in the season. He failed to do so.
The Vikings fell short of the playoffs and eventually the off-season had arrived. Just like the playoffs, the Vikings failed to reach an agreement with the 3-time rushing champion, making him an unrestricted free agent. In the press conference announcing his release, general manager Rick Spielman, vocalized his desire to keep Adrian Peterson. The franchise then decided days later to sign Latavius Murray instead Peterson.
So, the million, or 8-million-dollar question that remains is, where will Adrian Peterson end up?
Once he was released, the running back was said to have interest a long list of teams. First on that list was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have had trouble in the last year with their running game dropping from the 5th running offense in the NFL to the 25th ranked rushing offense. In recent weeks, the veteran posted pictures on social media with Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston. In the same post, he wrote how much he admired the leadership of the young quarterback, making the case that he could just end up in Tampa.
The New York Giants shotgun type offense and deteriorating offensive line doesn’t seem to be the ideal destination for an aging running back who is coming off injury, and the worst rushing average of his career. The Houston Texans among the first teams reported to be a possible landing spot, but since talks have quieted.
After these reports surfaced, Peterson took meetings from teams not even listed as possible places he would sign. Later, he was reported to be in talks with both Seattle and Oakland, who have both since shied away. Oakland looks to land former Seahawks fan-favorite Marshawn Lynch, as he mulls coming out of retirement, while the Seahawks moved on from the idea of both running backs and signed Eddie Lacy.
As if it couldn’t get any more confusing, Peterson added another team to the list. A team like the reigning Super-Bowl champion New England Patriots. Last week, he visited with the team and left the facility without a deal or an agreement. The former MVP had a different type of visit. The team put him through different drills and tests, because according to Pats insider Mike Reiss, they “wanted to see him work”.
In the coming weeks, the plot thickens. The Saints have scheduled a meeting with Peterson, and head coach Sean Payton will be in attendance. Personally, this is a great fit for Peterson. The addition of Max Unger at center has fortified the offensive line and if paired with Marc Ingram, with the caracal type system the Saints run, it is a perfect fit for the team. They can limit the amount of touches all-day may get and would complement each other’s running styles. Match that with the arm strength and accuracy of Drew Brees and that Saints offense could be a force in the NFC South.
