Fullback Jerome Felton saw his playing time drop sharply in 2014 as Norv Turner took the reins of the Vikings offense and he’s decided not to hang around to see if things perk up in 2015.
Felton signaled his intention to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Vikings at the end of the season and went ahead and did so on Tuesday.
“Want to thank the Vikings organization for the last three years, it’s been a life changing few years and I have so much respect and admiration for what they’ve done for my family and myself!! Vikings fans are some of the best in the league and I want to say thank you for all your support! No doors are closed but I’m excited to see what the future holds!!” Felton wrote on Twitter.
Felton’s best year in Minnesota was his first as Felton helped block for Adrian Peterson on Peterson’s way to 2,097 yards and made it to the Pro Bowl, but wound up playing 175 snaps in 2014 with Peterson out of the lineup and Turner pushing things in a different direction.
Felton’s decision makes him an unrestricted free agent in March and leaves the Vikings with $2.5 million in cap space to use this offseason.