Report: Adrian Peterson Trying To Get Reinstated Before Free Agency

According to a source that spoke to Jason Cole of the Bleacher Report, Adrian Peterson‘s new lawsuit against the NFL, which was filed by the NFLPA on Monday, is attempting to have push back the date for him return from his suspension.

As things stand right now, Peterson would return on April 15. However, the hope for Peterson is that he can get his return date set for the beginning of March, which would allow him to test free agency in the event that the Vikings release him in the coming months.

This would be a smart move by Peterson, even if the Vikings do not have any intention of cutting him before the start of the 2015 league year. Another interesting point made by Cole is that this would also prevent the Vikings from having leverage over him and possibly force him to consider restructuring his contract and ultimately taking a pay cut.

There isn’t all that much money available in April for free agents to secure, so it’s hard to blame him for going this route.

Indications are that the Vikings are planning to have Peterson on their roster for next year, but it always good to be prepared for the worst as an NFL player seeing as their contracts aren’t fully guaranteed like other spots.

Should Peterson become a free agent, there would almost certainly be a number of teams interested in signing him. The Cowboys and Texans have both come up in the past as potential landing spots for Peterson given that he’s from Texas.

Peterson, 29, still has another three years remaining on his seven-year, $96 million contract that included $36 million guaranteed. Although, the Vikings will have to decide if Peterson is worth the $11.75 million he stands to make next year.