Adrian Peterson trade rumors with the Minnesota Vikings have been rumbling for a while and although most of the reports about the Dallas Cowboys being interested in a deal seemed ridiculous, now ESPN is reporting that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and AP have spoken about the possibility of the Minnesota Vikings back coming to Texas and without a trade deal, Jones likely will have to wait until he hits free agency.
The Dallas Cowboys and Adrian Peterson seem like a match made in heaven, as AP is from Texas and the Cowboys have been looking for a star running back for quite some time. According to the ESPN Magazine article and Outside the Lines report on Jerry Jones, Peterson and Jones spoke on the phone in a casual conversation and Peterson said that he would like to play in Dallas when his contract is up with the Vikings. The report says that this could be considered tampering, but the Cowboys and Jones don't see it that way. The call came when ESPN senior writer Don Van Natta Jr. was working on a story on Jones and he was present in the suite at AT&T Stadium when Jones was on the phone with Peterson.
Peterson is 29 years old and last season there were some rumblings that he could be traded or released at some point over the next year. RBs are decreasing in value in the NFL and Peterson getting older doesn't help that, although he has been one of the best backs in the league for most of his career. Peterson rushed for over 2,000 a couple years ago and had another strong season last year, but the Vikes will be on the hook for $11.75 million this season and that is a ton for a back getting to the age of 30.
Jones has long wanted to win the Super Bowl again and he also was close to adding another major star in Johnny Manziel in the draft. The team did not do that and went for an OL player instead, but adding someone like Peterson would bring massive star power to the Cowboys. The team obviously already has Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, but a player like Peterson would be a huge draw and he could either work with or push aside DeMarco Murry if he comes to Dallas.
The call was described as Peterson saying that he wanted to be with the Cowboys after his Vikings days and Jones replied: "Well, I understand, Adrian," Jones told Peterson during the call. "I'd like that, too ... Well, I love your story. I love your daddy's story. I've always respected what you've been about. I've always been a fan of yours."
Over the past five years and maybe more, the value of running backs has steadily decreased and those reasons are what prompted some in the Minnesota press and Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report to speculate that Adrian Peterson could be traded. Lynch has been one of the best running backs in the league, but as he gets older and the value of the position decreases, the Seahawks may not have any other chose but to let him go.
