MANKATO – Adrian Peterson created a mini-stir on the first day of Vikings training camp when he missed part of practice to do sprints on a field devoted to injury rehab.
Money is a factor in pivotal year for Adrian Peterson
Transition season puts Peterson in a role where he must adapt to Teddy Bridgewater as the Vikings' focal point
July 31, 2016 at 2:08PM
Coach Mike Zimmer said Peterson pulled a hamstring during a workout before camp. Nothing serious, but the team wants to be cautious.
Peterson's absence from drills serves as a stark reminder of his organizational importance but also has created a snapshot of how things might look this time next year.
What if this is his final season in Minnesota?
In that regard, the 2016 season ranks among the most interesting of Peterson's career because a decision on his future looms.
His production and ability to adjust his game to mesh with Teddy Bridgewater's strengths at quarterback will go a long way in answering that overarching question.
It seems weird to contemplate the Vikings without Peterson because he has been the face of the organization and the team's best and most popular player for nearly a decade.
But his contract essentially forces some action after this season. He's due a $6 million roster bonus in early March and would carry a gigantic $18 million cap figure.
Even if Peterson defends his NFL rushing title this season and continues to defy age, that salary seems unrealistic, perhaps even foolish, for a running back who will be 32 next season.
The Vikings have not wavered in their willingness to pay Peterson well above market value for running backs, but $18 million would stretch the limits of reason.
A restructuring of his contract seems a likely outcome, which would be a smart compromise by both sides that could allow Peterson to play his entire career in Minnesota.
His value — and leverage — will hinge on how he performs in his 10th season. Peterson won league MVP honors coming off ACL surgery and led the NFL in rushing last season after spending a year in exile serving a league-mandated suspension.
It won't be the least bit surprising if he wins the rushing title again at age 31.
Peterson finds motivation in any slight — real or imagined — so questions involving his age, his fumbling problem and his deficiencies as a third-down back probably stoke his competitive fire.
"The talk about being 31, that's something that's deep down inside, that I think in my mind that I'll prove people wrong," he said.
That starts with proving that he can adapt his game and have similar success with Bridgewater in shotgun formation as he has with his quarterback under center.
Last season, Peterson averaged only 1.7 yards on 39 rushing attempts from shotgun formation. His average jumped to 4.7 on carries when the quarterback was under center.
Peterson averages a yard more per carry throughout his career — 4.9 compared to 3.8 — when the quarterback is under center.
That's a big difference. Now here's the rub: Bridgewater looks far more comfortable in shotgun.
Bridgewater owns a 94.1 career passer rating in shotgun with 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Under center, he has a 68.7 passer rating.
That's a big difference, too.
The marriage between Peterson's and Bridgewater's strengths caused growing pains last season. Maybe the new-look offensive staff has devised plans to maximize both, but Bridgewater's development should take precedence.
Peterson remains a focal point of their scheme, but Zimmer gave an interesting response when asked what he hopes his offense can accomplish during training camp. Zimmer noted his offense's talent and the need to use all of it.
"I don't want to have some guy that can help us standing on the sideline," he said.
He listed different positions before mentioning Peterson's backup, Jerick McKinnon, by name, an indication that his role could expand, particularly on third down.
Offensive coordinator Norv Turner raised the possibility of using Peterson and McKinnon in the backfield together. That idea seems more like an occasional wrinkle. Turner indicated Peterson's workload will be largely unchanged.
"You get about 60 plays [per game]; Adrian is going to get his," he said. "Now, where does the rest of it go?"
What Peterson does with his share could provide some clarity as to how the organization will handle a critical question next offseason.
Chip Scoggins • chip.scoggins@startribune.com
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
