Colts Run Game: Five Guys that Could Fit the Bill
Dec 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) rushes for 21 yards against the Chicago Bears in overtime at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Vikings win 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
There’s probably not much separation between Murray and the next option. Adrian Peterson has been one of the NFL’s elite rushers for years, and the veteran still has plenty of gas in the tank. After serving a year-long suspension for the alleged child abuse scandal, Peterson is obviously chomping at the bit to get back on the field and run all over opposing defenses.
In 14 starts with the Vikings in 2013, Peterson had 1,266 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. In the previous year, playing in all 16 contests, he torched opposing defenses for 2,097 yards and punched it into the end zone 12 times.
This coming season will be Peterson’s eighth in the NFL. While he’s obviously considered a veteran, he still has some gas left in the tank. The only on-the-field drawback here would be that the other pieces of the Colts offense would be younger, and it’s likely that Grigson would be faced with having to replace a key component of the offense in a few years while the rest of the Colts skill players are in the prime of their careers.
To add a little mud to the waters, Peterson is technically still under contract with Minnesota until the 2017 season. With his legal issues, the question remains on whether or not the Vikings front office will keep Peterson, try to trade him, or simply cut bait and move on. The rest of his $96 million contract with the Vikings is non-guaranteed, so essentially Minnesota could cut him from the team, and not owe him a dime.
There’s no question that Peterson would make an instant impact on the Colts scoring ability, but the major question remains as to whether or not the Colts want to get involved with a player with baggage and PR issues, especially after having two players arrested in the last two weeks. Is AP’s talent enough to get Grigson to roll the dice? Can Colts fans overlook Peterson’s off-the-field issues? What will come of Peterson’s contract? That all remains to be seen.