Adrian Peterson has been the unquestioned face of the Minnesota Vikings for years now, remaining the franchise's heart through unending roster turnover.
The former MVP, who turns 30 next March, understands there will be a time when he'll be deemed a movable piece. In a recent interview with USA Today's Tom Pelissero, Peterson was asked if he thinks he'll be around when the Vikings are again regarded as Super Bowl contenders.
"I don't see why not," he said. "But then again, I know it's a business at the end of the day. I won't ever be blinded by that, when I hear different talks of this trade or that trade. Would you have ever traded Percy Harvin?
After Pelissero replied, "Probably not unless I had to," Peterson continued.
"I wouldn't have. I would have been like, 'You're just going to sit here and I'll pay you, but you're not going nowhere else.' But he got traded," he said. "So, you never know. I'm always looking at things in different lights -- not saying that I would want that. But if it was to happen, I've had a good time here.
"People will know that this guy gave his heart for this organization. I think the organization would take a heavy hit -- for real -- more so from the fan base. I don't think it would be like a LeBron (James) situation where they're burning my jersey, this, that and the other. They might be doing (the opposite) and not buying some season tickets."
The Vikings will regret it forever if they waste the back-end of Peterson's prime in a rebuilding era. They'll feel even worse if they cut ties with the running back then watch him become a Super Bowl-winning hero for someone else.
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," the guys make the case that multiple teams have closed the gap on the Seahawks and 49ers in the NFC.
