The Minnesota Vikings are not ruling out anything with running back Adrian Peterson, including the possibility that he may have played his last game in Minnesota.
Rick Spielman, the Vikings’ Executive V.P. and General Manager, told Sal Paolantonio of ESPN that the team wasn’t aware that Peterson was going to be indicted for injury to a child, and hasn’t decided what to do about it beyond deactivating him for today’s game.
“Friday night was the first we heard of the formal allegations against Adrian Peterson, and we decided, as an organization, that to deactivate him this weekend was in the best interests of everybody concerned,” Spielman told Paolantonio.
Spielman said the Vikings want to be sure they know all the facts before taking decisive action.
“We are, as an organization, still in the process of gathering information, and at the end of the weekend we will discuss what we will do going forward,” Spielman said. “You don’t want to make any kneejerk reactions. All options are on the table. You can’t take any options off the table because we’re still gathering information.”
The fact that the Vikings cutting Peterson is even a possibility is stunning, given that 48 hours ago he was the best and most beloved player on the team. But it’s a possibility — one that the Vikings will have to consider.