Zimmer wants Peterson in a Vikings uniform in 2015

[PacificNorseWest]

Truth is, we won't know anything until April. I am so sick of all this nonsense in the media. It must be fun to get paid to write pure speculation on a daily basis.

Agree.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Plus, as far as we know, the NFL wont even act on reinstatement until April 15th? I just hope everything is worked out in advance to that date. We already got screwed in this deal.

[slapnut19]

i don't think the off the field situation will have an impact. i think it was bobby bowden who said "if i don't forgive my top players for mistakes then i bet auburn or florida will." if we cut peterson outright i bet a team like new england or even seattle would snatch him up in a heartbeat and not give two #### about what happened last season.

i also don't think his cap figure is a deal breaker. i think lesean mccoy's cap number is around 11 mil for this year and they aren't in a panic. we could leave peterson's contract as is for 2015 and still end with 20-30 million in space when you factor in the cap increase and upcoming cuts and restructures.

the key will be what peterson wants to do. if he is dead set on not wanting to come back then hopefully the team and another team can come to an agreement that #1 doesn't hurt us financially and #2 allows us to get something of value in return. the team could also just play hardball and tell him they aren't moving or releasing him. that may be enough to put him in a corner where he has no choice but to play. would he really want to create a bigger p.r. mess after what happened last season by refusing to play for a team that stood by him last year by paying him and one who would be set to pay him another 15 mil to play in 2015?

[The Breeze]

It's not my money but I'd be fine with them not talking restructure until next off season.

[saint33]

For me, I'd love to see AD back, but at the same time, I wouldn't be against letting him go due to age and salary. If there's any year to do it, it's this year, the talent available at RB this off season as good as it's ever been.

Melvin Gordon
Todd Gurley
DeMarco Murray

If Peterson isn't on the team, I hope one of those three are. Replace one aging superstar with a young star in the making. Although there are a few other RBs that aren't terrible, I'd be a little disappointed if we ended up with a guy like Mark Ingram or Shane Vereen. My worst fear is that the Norv Turner connection brings the oft-injured Ryan Matthews to Minnesota

[Boon]

For me, I'd love to see AD back, but at the same time, I wouldn't be against letting him go due to age and salary. If there's any year to do it, it's this year, the talent available at RB this off season as good as it's ever been.

Melvin Gordon
Todd Gurley
DeMarco Murray

If Peterson isn't on the team, I hope one of those three are. Replace one aging superstar with a young star in the making. Although there are a few other RBs that aren't terrible, I'd be a little disappointed if we ended up with a guy like Mark Ingram or Shane Vereen. My worst fear is that the Norv Turner connection brings the oft-injured Ryan Matthews to Minnesota

Vikings don't need any of those. McKinnon is perfectly capable of running the ball with banyard backing him up, or should be. We just took a third round running back, spielman would require drug testing if he took another one. And murray isn't going to come cheap. Just keep adrian for that damn price. Vikings have way more pressing needs.

Everytime I see these running backs names come up as 1st/2nd picks I cringe

[PurpleKoolaid]

Everytime I see these running backs names come up as 1st/2nd picks I cringe

You and me both.
I do think AD is going to want to get out of MN. Maybe he thinks he can make more money. I don't think he is close to his last season of football. His body is like Superman's. But if he does go, we get a lot of camp room. But we shouldn't be in a rush to get the next 1st or even second rounder. Asiata and McKinnon have shown the could run the ball. Maybe Zeke will be there in late 2nd early 3rd. With Felton gone, Rhett is going to be used as FB again, and maybe have a few carries. Lots of backs in this years draft. I wouldn't waste a pick that cant block, run, and catch the screen passes. Kinda like Asiata. Address the RB and WR via draft. Get Spikes. If theres a better DE in FA (and there is) then Robison, get him. But lets draft the RB and WR.

Sorry I think I somehow messed up your original quote Boon.

[dead_poet]

I do think AD is going to want to get out of MN. Maybe he thinks he can make more money.

He might be gone, but there's no freaking way he'll be able to score $15 million/year elsewhere. If his motives are purely financial (and provided the Vikings don't press the issue), remaining in Purple will be his best bet to score the most cash. I'm not sure what his endorsement deals look like right now but that might impact his decision as well.

Asiata and McKinnon have shown the could run the ball.

There's a difference between being able to run the ball and being a consistently productive offensive threat. McKinnon might be. Asiata isn't. There are a couple of studs in the draft that could be difference-makers.

I wouldn't waste a pick that cant block, run, and catch the screen passes. Kinda like Asiata.

Who are you referring to in this? Are you saying Asiata can't do these things or he can? Sorry, I just didn't understand.

Address the RB and WR via draft. Get Spikes. If theres a better DE in FA (and there is) then Robison, get him. But lets draft the RB and WR.

I'm not sold on Spikes. He's a two-down thumper that might be marginally better than Brinkley (not that it takes too much), but I'd take any upgrade in the middle right now. Cole really impressed me the last game. We may go DE early, which I'd be OK with. Not much depth there currently and Robison could be in decline phase.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I didn't word that well at all, did I. I meant to say Asiata and Mckinnon can be more then effective at running the ball, as a 1-2 punch. And we haven't even seen the best Mck can bring. That's if AD goes or stays. I see no sense for holding onto Banyard unless we can keep him on the PS.

We must have watch many different games of Spikes and Jasper. Jasper might make a play. Spikes might miss a play. Jasper has just been horrible for years, like Johnson has been trying to play guard. I hope they are both gone, and we find others to fill their spots. I like so much in Cole. I just don't understand the logic of keep Jasper around.

And I think you are right about Robison. Kinda felt that all season long. But we have some guys on the team I wouldn't mind seeing out there from time to time.

[PurpleMustReign]

I am guessing Felton won't be back, so can Asiata be a FB?

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[slapnut19]

if peterson isn't back we better do a little bit better than mckinnon, baynard and asiata. i get that the rb position is devalued, but that doesn't mean you have to roll out the least talented group in the league.

[Mothman]

I am guessing Felton won't be back, so can Asiata be a FB?

Possibly... but Zach Line is under contract through 2015 and I'm assuming felton's presumed departure after 2014 is one of the reasons they kept Line on the 53 man roster last season. He'll probably the starting FB going into training camp.

[saint33]

Vikings don't need any of those. McKinnon is perfectly capable of running the ball with banyard backing him up, or should be. We just took a third round running back, spielman would require drug testing if he took another one. And murray isn't going to come cheap. Just keep adrian for that damn price. Vikings have way more pressing needs.

Everytime I see these running backs names come up as 1st/2nd picks I cringe

First of all, what exactly has Banyard done outside of a few good runs against 3rd stringers in preseason to suggest he's capable of being a solid backup?

As for McKinnon, I like the kid, but I'm not sold that he can be a bell cow RB in the NFL. Half the teams in the playoffs had a top ten rusher this year, while 3 of the other top 10 RBs were on teams on the cusp of the playoffs.

I'm not suggesting we NEED to use a 1st round pick on a RB, with the devaluation of the position in the league, they can be found in a number of places. There's no guarantee Gurley or Gordon go in the 1st round, and there's no guarantee that Murray gets a Peterson type deal, that's just the nature of the position right now. But I really don't buy that the value of a top RB is less than it used to be. IMO a playmaking RB would add as much to our offense, if not more, than a playmaking WR could.

So essentially it comes down to what you think of McKinnon. I like him a lot more as a complimentary piece to a bell cow, then I do relying on him as our guy. I see no reason why adding a running back early in the draft or through free agency should be considered a mistake. Take away Teddy's rushing numbers from our offense, and our rushing attack was in the bottom third of the league. I'd rather not repeat that again next year.

[slapnut19]

if peterson gets the axe then i would look to add a mark ingram or ryan matthews type. neither one are true #1 backs and would both complement mckinnon.

[PurpleMustReign]

if peterson gets the axe then i would look to add a mark ingram or ryan matthews type. neither one are true #1 backs and would both complement mckinnon.

Asiata is a good complement to McKinnon, IMO. My bigger question mark is McKinnon (can he stay healthy, carry the team, etc).

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