Rick Spielman Talks Adrian Peterson, Free Agency, & Chad Greenway
Adam Warwas
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At the University of Minnesota’s pro day on Monday, the media was able to catch up with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, who touched on a number of topics.
Spielman was asked for an update on the Adrian Peterson situation and he explained that the team is now able to have open communications with Peterson, and that they are.
“We are able to have communication now with Adrian,” Rick Spielman said. “We’ll keep all those communications internal. I don’t want to sit here and give you guys a blow-by-blow every day. I think it’s been clearly stated that we want Adrian Peterson back. There’s no question about the talent, and he’s a unique talent, and he’s under contract with us next year.”
As far as what Spielman has planned for free agency, he did not reveal anything, as expected. The answers he gave would have you believe the Vikings will sit back and wait for the second wave of free agency to avoid throwing funny money around. Still, the acquisitions of Linval Joseph and Captain Munnerlyn last year prove that Spielman doesn’t always have the discipline to keep the checkbook hidden on those opening days.
“I think more than likely, we’ll just sit back, unless something unique pops up,” Spielman said. “There’s some things we’re still working through internally.”
With $23 million in projected cap space, and the possibility to gain more space in the event of an Adrian Peterson trade, it is particularly hard to believe that Spielman and company aren’t planning to add a blue chip guy or two in free agency.
One way the Vikings could free up some more cap space is renegotiate Chad Greenway’s contract or, potentially, part ways with the veteran linebacker.
“Chad Greenway, I think everybody knows what type of player and person he’s been and we’d love to have Chad Greenway finish as a Minnesota Viking,” Spielman said. “He’s under contract. There’s no deadline. We’re under the cap. There’s no deadline (on making that decision).”
Everybody loves Chad Greenway, at least almost everybody, but his play no longer lives up to his salary. It seems unlikely that the Vikings will retain him under his current contract. Greenway himself acknowledged the possibilities earlier this offseason.