Adrian Peterson Wants Trade To Dallas Cowboys; Vikings Refuse

One of the lingering offseason issues for the Dallas Cowboys has been the re-signing of starting running back DeMarco Murray, the league’s leading rusher last season. Murray’s injury history plus his rising price tag have been perceived reasons why Dallas has not been able to reach a contract extension with the 27-year old running back as of yet.

But rumors about the possibility the Cowboys could acquire All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson from the Minnesota Vikings could also be part of the delay. And speculation on that front took a giant step forward on Saturday as NFL Insider Jason Cole reported via The Bleacher Report that Peterson has made his intentions known to the Vikings about wanting to join America’s Team in 2015.

"“What I’m hearing Adam is that Adrian Peterson wants to go to Dallas. The Minnesota Vikings are aware of that. In talking to a high level NFL executive, every one knows what every one wants. But the Vikings will not, do not want to trade him in any way, shape or form. Specifically, not to the Cowboys. Don’t expect that to happen, at least from their end. There’s a lot here to play out. But the Vikings do not want to send him to the Cowboys.”"

Cole went on to say he’s interested in seeing how Peterson may make things uncomfortable for the Vikings in order to get his way. Early on, both sides seemed open to the idea of the ninth-year veteran returning to Minnesota following his current suspension by the NFL after being indicted for injuring his four-year old son with a switch.

But things took a turn for the worse this week when Peterson announced he was looking for a fresh start.

Peterson went on to say he feels members of the Vikings’ organization do not want him to return and that a certain element from Minnesota haven’t supported him through his suspension.

"“I have a wife who was able to sit back and see how people in Minnesota said this and said that, how media in Minnesota took the head of the situation with my child, and were digging into things that weren’t even relevant,” Peterson told NFL.com on Thursday. “This came from the state I love so much, that I wish to bring a championship to? This is how they treat me when I’m down and out? “You kick me? My wife (and I), we’ve had several conversations about me returning to Minnesota, what the best options are. If I left it up to her, I’d be somewhere else today, and that’s with her weighing everything. It’s a lot for me to weigh; she understands that. But there are some things that I’m still uneasy about.”"

Peterson clearly appears disgruntled with the prospect of returning to the Vikings once his suspension is lifted. The NFL Player’s Association is currently suing the league on Adrian’s behalf in order to try and get the suspension lifted before free agency begins on March 10th. That decision by U.S. District Judge David Doty is expected to come early next month.

Although the Vikings allegedly do not want to trade Peterson, especially to the Cowboys for some reason, they may not have a choice. Rotoworld.com believes a trade would be the best option in this case, but only if the veteran is willing to redo his contract.

Peterson signed a massive a seven-year, $96 million deal back in 2011. He is owed $44.25 million in the next three years. It is an amount no NFL team is likely to trade for, so Rotoworld believes release is beginning to look like the most likely endgame.

In that case, the Cowboys certainly have to be the odds on favorite to land Peterson. But that is probably only as long as they haven’t already signed Murray to a long-term deal.

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