Free Agent Adrian Peterson Linked to NFC Team
Dustin Baker
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Adrian Peterson didn’t play pro football last year for the first time since 2006, but that doesn’t mean he’s done.
Source? Him.
Free Agent Adrian Peterson Linked to NFC Team
Asked about retirement this week, Peterson opined, “Mentally, I haven’t officially hung it up. We’ll see what happens. My mindset is, if God’s willing, maybe an opportunity presents itself, and maybe it happens this season. I’ll go from there. But nothing happens this season. For sure, I will be hanging it up.”
And if that something happens in 2023, it might just be a free-agent relationship with the Dallas Cowboys. The Texas native grew up as a Cowboys fan, and if the fit aligned, perhaps Peterson could wind down his illustrious career in Dallas — is the working theory.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Clarence E. Hill Jr. wrote Tuesday, “Peterson was once linked to the Cowboys following his departure from the Vikings. Following the release of Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys are in the market for short-yardage back.”
Hill Jr. then asked his readers, “Could Peterson be an option in training camp or some point in 2023?”
Tony Pollard is on deck as RB1, with side dishes of Malik Davis, rookie Deuce Vaughn, and Ronald Jones for support. Cowboys enthusiasts are evidently accustomed to a fancy way of living with productive halfbacks, so it makes sense in that regard that the Cowboys would shimmy into the Peterson rumor mill, if only for end-of-career carries.
Drafted in 2007 by the Minnesota Vikings, Peterson, 38, ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards, trailing the legendary Barry Sanders for fourth place by just 352 yards. He also ranks fourth in rushing touchdowns, needing just four more to pass Marcus Allen for third all-time.
And those numbers are why Peterson is a sure-fire Hall of Famer, spending his first ten seasons with the Vikings. After that, Peterson played for an extensive list of teams, including the Saints, Cardinals, Commanders, Lions, Titans, and Seahawks.
In his long career, Peterson reached the postseason four times — all with the Vikings — with the only win as the playoff game back in 2009 when the Vikings crushed — you guessed it — the Cowboys at the Metrodome. Otherwise, Vikings teams with Peterson on the roster finished 1-4 (.200) overall in postseason contests.
Peterson was also asked by FOX 9 about a return to the Vikings In March of 2022. He replied, “I’ve seen stranger things happen. But they’re set with Dalvin Cook. He’s just a great talent. Who knows? It could possibly happen. But when it’s time for me to retire, of course, I’ll be back in a purple uniform, for sure.”
It is unclear if the Cowboys have any tangible, internal interest in Peterson.
Peterson ranks second on the Vikings all-time list for touchdowns (102), trailing Cris Carter by eight scores (110).
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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