Never say never with Jerry Jones. The Dallas Cowboys' owner is always willing to make deals he thinks will better the team which is why Adrian Peterson continues to get tossed around as a potential option after the departure of DeMarco Murray. The Cowboys have remained tight lipped and coy about their interest in the Minnesota Vikings running back, but once again Jones is giving hints at the potential option.
The Cowboys have yet to truly replace Murray at the running back position. The reigning leading rusher in the NFL is not an easy hole to fill on a roster and Dallas could find that out the hard way. The team signed Darren McFadden to a contract in free agency in hopes the former college standout could regain his old form after a disappointing stint with the Oakland Raiders. Jones has no doubts about the potential McFadden brings to the field.
"[Y]ou've got a good chance to not live up to expectations," Jones said, via NBC Sports Radio. "Because when you are drafted that high, people think that you are going to be the next Jimmy Brown. So, yes he would have liked to have had a more productive career. But the kinds of skills that got him drafted with the fourth pick in the draft, he still has. You worry about injury, but we were worried about injury with Murray. In eight seasons, four in Oklahoma and four with the Cowboys, Murray only had two injury free seasons. And so the position is one you have to take into consideration no matter what the skill level is, they take a lot of hits, lot of punishment, and you got a good chance to have an injury issue. And that's why we couldn't make that kind of commitment of dollars to that position."
So what about Peterson as an option?Jones would not say no to the idea, but he also would not say yes to the move either, trying to avoid trouble. Jones simply said that he is not going to talk about it, but the Dallas Morning News believes the Cowboys could trade for Peterson and then restructure his contract.
The Cowboys are eyeing top running backs in the draft with the likes of Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon. They could go that route instead of Peterson. Right now Jones is also trying to negotiate a contract extension for Dez Bryant after the wide receiver was hit with the franchise tag. Getting Peterson and also having to re-work that deal could be too much for Dallas.
