Peterson and Vikings Agree to Restructured Contract

Despite Adrian Peterson’s most valiant efforts to play football elsewhere in 2015, the Minnesota Vikings were unwavering in their determination to keep the team’s best player in purple and gold.

Now, with Peterson having already opted to suit up for the Vikes this season, the two sides have agreed to a restructured contract that should lock the running back down for the rest of his career.

“I appreciate the Vikings for working together on this restructured contract, which…allows opportunities for me to further prove my value to the team and within the NFL,” said Peterson with an air of diplomacy. “It was important for me to continue my career in Minnesota, and I cannot wait to get on the field in front of Vikings fans again.”

Details are fuzzy at this time, but it appears that Peterson’s three-year, $44 million deal comes complete with $20 million in guaranteed money. More specifically, the Vikings have guaranteed the $13 million Peterson was set to earn in 2015, with the remaining $7 million being an “injury-only” guarantee valid until the start of the 2016 season.

The deal is both juicy enough to secure the services of one of the best backs in the league, but team-friendly enough to allow the franchise to move on without much fuss if Peterson shows he cannot return to his MVP form after a whole season out of the game.

Minnesota needs to view that big chunk of guaranteed cash as something of a trial deal; a sunk cost serving to test Peterson’s ability at the pro level. If he can’t be the back he once was, he’ll be given every opportunity to play out the twilight of his career with a Super Bowl contender.