ARIZONA CARDINALS

Report: Arizona Cardinals among teams Adrian Peterson would prefer to play for

Mar 4, 2015, 12:49 AM | Updated: Mar 6, 2015, 10:55 pm

Follow @theAdamGreenPresented By...

Plenty would need to happen before this could go from a rumor to a possibility and then, maybe, a reality, but it looks like there is at least a chance the Arizona Cardinals could land one of the game’s premier running backs.

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson, while Adrian Peterson has not completely ruled out a return to the Minnesota Vikings, if he decides to leave he’s willing to restructure his contract in order to facilitate a trade. Robinson spoke with Peterson’s father Nelson.

While the Dallas Cowboys have been reported to be a Peterson favorite destination, the running back prefers five teams: the Arizona Cardinals, the Indianapolis Colts, the Cowboys, the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That said, even if Peterson requested a trade, the Vikings could refuse and simply pay him the $12.75 million in base salary he’s due in the 2015 season.

Of course, when it comes to Peterson it’s not just about his ability on the field or even his salary.

The six-time Pro Bowler missed all but one game last season after being suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s conduct policy after he pleaded no contest to hitting his 4-year-old son with a switch.

Last week, however, a federal judge overturned an arbitor’s ruling that allowed the NFL to continue his suspension, so as of now he’s on the commissioner’s exempt list while things get sorted out.

Peterson will be 30 when the 2015 regular season begins, but has shown no signs of slowing down despite all the mileage he has accumulated since being selected seventh overall by the Vikings in the 2007 NFL Draft.

In 2013, he rushed for 1,266 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 279 carries, and the season before — in his return from a torn ACL — he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns on 348 carries.

As for where he’d fit with the Cardinals, the team has made little secret of its desire to improve its situation at running back. Andre Ellington went into last season as the starter, but injuries hampered his season as he ran for just 660 yards and three touchdowns on 201 carries while also catching 467 passes for 395 yards and two scores.

The team’s second-leading rusher after Ellington was Kerwynn Williams, a late-season pickup who ran for 246 yards on 53 carries.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Report: Arizona Cardinals among teams Adrian Peterson would prefer to play for