The way Adrian Peterson's father sees it, there were members of the Vikings organization actively working against his son's reinstatement. But even so, the running back would not rule out a return to the Vikings.
"He is open to returning to the Vikings," Nelson Peterson told the Pioneer Press on Monday. "He hasn't closed the door on saying, 'I won't play for the Vikings.' He hasn't demanded a trade."
This comes despite the fact that, according to Nelson, Peterson feels like Vikings chief operating officer Kevin Warren was trying to keep him off the field. Nelson also denied reports that Peterson requested a trade to Dallas and said that Adrian does not feel any ill will toward the Vikings' fan base.
"Kevin Warren was a major player in the push last year to not have Adrian reinstated," Nelson said. "We had our sources that we knew that Kevin wasn't working for Adrian to get him back on the field and was working to keep Adrian off the field."
The Vikings declined comment to Around The NFL and referred specific inquiries about Warren to comments the president made two weeks ago. Back then, Warren said he would welcome Peterson back to the team.
According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, much of this could be solved with money.
Specifically Rapoport notes, per sources close to Peterson, that the running back feels he lost around $10 million between endorsements and salary last season. If Minnesota guaranteed some of his 2016 salary, that would go a long way in mending the relationship.
This will continue to be one of the offseason's more delicate issues. Peterson, after all, did apologize for what the league called "an incident of abusive discipline" toward his 4-year-old son during the 2014 season which inevitably upended some of the long-standing relationships he's had in a city that considers him an icon.
But maybe we haven't seen the last of Peterson in purple and gold.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast breaks down all the latest from the combine and gives updates on Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
