A Peterson NFL Return?

A Peterson return to the NFL would be welcomed by many fans, but is it the right move for him?

The Case for a Return

It has been three years since Adrian Peterson played in the NFL. The 32-year-old running back is a free agent, and it seems like he is done with the NFL. Peterson has hinted at a return to the league recently, and there are a few teams that make sense for him. Let’s take a look at some of those teams.

The Fans

The Minnesota Vikings selected Adrian Peterson with the seventh pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

A lot was expected of the young running back, and he quickly delivered on that promise. In his rookie season, he racked up 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns on 290 carries, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl.

He followed that up with an even better sophomore campaign, posting 1,760 yards and 10 touchdowns on 315 carries. Once again, he was named to the Pro Bowl.

Then, in his third season, Peterson took his game to another level. He ran for a staggering 2,099 yards and finished just eight yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. His performances earned him the NFL MVP award, and he was once again named to the Pro Bowl.

At this point, it seemed like there was nothing Adrian Peterson couldn’t do. He was one of the most dominant players in the league, and he was still just 25 years old. It seemed like he was destined to become one of the greatest running backs of all time.

However, in 2011, Peterson suffered a devastating knee injury that sidelined him for most of the season. He returned in 2012 and rushed for 2,097 yards, but he wasn’t quite the same player as before.

Then, in 2013, Peterson missed 15 games due to suspension after being charged with child abuse. He returned in 2014 and ran for 1,485 yards, but he wasn’t as explosive as he once was.

Nowadays, Adrian Peterson is past his prime at age 31. He’s no longer the dominant player he once was; however, he’s still a very good running back. In 2016 alone, he rushed for 1125 yards and nine touchdowns on 327 carries (3.(5 per carry).) So far this season (2017), through 11 games played ,he has rushed for 601 yards on 156 attempts (3.(9 per carry) with seven touchdowns.) As you can see ,although not racking up numbers like his peak ,he is still serviceable .

The Team

The Team currently is in need of a change and with that a new head coach. Of course, with a new head coach, will come new changes to the team. We believe that one of those changes needs to be the return of Adrian Peterson. Adrian Peterson is not only a fan favorite but also was an asset to the team before he left.

The League

The National Football League is the pinnacle of American professional football. Comprised of 32 teams, the NFL Draft is an annual event in which each team selects new players to join their squad. One of the most important aspects of the draft for each team is finding players who will be able to contribute right away and make an impact. For some teams, this means selecting players who can come in and start from Day 1. For others, it might mean finding players with high upside who can be developed over time.

In recent years, there has been a trend of teams using high draft picks on quarterbacks and other skill position players while shying away from selecting offensive linemen early on. This has led to a situation where there are a number of good, young quarterbacks in the league but not enough quality offensive linemen to protect them. As a result, many teams are now searching for ways to improve their offensive line play.

One option that has been gaining steam lately is the idea of signing Ryan Clady, a former first-round pick who was recently released by the Denver Broncos. Clady is only 30 years old and would likely be able to provide an immediate upgrade at offensive tackle for many teams. He also has experience playing in a zone-blocking scheme, which is becoming increasingly popular in the NFL.

If Ryan Clady can stay healthy, he could be a very good signing for an NFL team looking to improve their offensive line play. He would provide an immediate upgrade at tackle and would give his new team a veteran presence on the offensive line.

The Case Against a Return

In 2015, then-Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson was suspended without pay for at least the remainder of the season, following an indictment on child abuse charges. In 2016, he was reinstated by the NFL and played one game before being placed on injured reserve. Currently, a free agent, many are wondering whether or not Peterson will make an NFL return. While his talent as a player cannot be denied, there are several reasons why Peterson may not make a return to the NFL.

The Fans

The fans are the most important part of any sport and they should be respected. They pay for their tickets and they should be able to see the players that they want to see. If Peterson wants to return, he should do so without the fans having to worry about him getting hurt again.

The Team

When the Bears decided to part with former first-round pick Jabari Parker, it was widely assumed that they would be in the market for a new small forward. However, with the team’s recent signing of Otto Porter Jr., it appears that they have decided to go in a different direction.

Porter is a rangy 6’8” wing who has shown the ability to knock down three-pointers at a solid clip (.349 career three-point percentage) and is a good defender. He will certainly be an upgrade on the offensive end of the floor over Parker, who was largely a disappointment during his two and half seasons in Chicago.

However, while Porter is an upgrade on offense, he is not nearly the same type of player as Parker. Porter is not nearly as athletic as Parker and does not have the same kind of explosiveness around the rim. Additionally, while Parker was never much of a three-point shooter, he did have the potential to develop into one; Porter, on the other hand, is already 25 years old and is unlikely to develop much beyond his current skillset.

The League

The National Football League has seen a dramatic increase in the number of players returning from retirement in recent years. In 2020, there were a total of 12 players who returned to the NFL after previously retiring, including high-profile names like Peyton Manning, Marshawn Lynch, and Jason Witten.

This trend is largely due to the league’s relaxed rules regarding player retirement and reinstatement. Prior to 2019, a player who retired had to wait one full year before he could petition for reinstatement. Now, that waiting period has been reduced to just three months.

While the league may be open to players returning from retirement, there are a number of reasons why a player might choose not to come back. First and foremost among these is the risk of injury. A study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that retired NFL players are 3.5 times more likely to die from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia than the general population.

There is also the simple fact that most players who retire do so because they no longer feel they can compete at a high level. There is no guarantee that a player who returns from retirement will be able to play at the same level he did before, especially after an extended absence from the game.

Finally, there is the financial consideration. NFL contracts are not fully guaranteed, meaning that a team can release a player at any time without having to pay him the full value of his contract. This means that a player who returns from retirement could sign a contract and then be cut before ever playing a down, leaving him without any income.

For all these reasons, it is unlikely that we will see a sharp increase in the number of players returning from retirement in the near future.