Adrian Peterson’s agent is no longer saying he wants out of Minnesota. He’s now saying he wants more money to stay in Minnesota.
Ben Dogra, who has previously said it’s not in Peterson’s best interest to stay with the Vikings, now says that he understands the Vikings will not get rid of Peterson.
“One of the things that I appreciate with the Vikings is their resolve to say ‘we’re not trading him,’” Dogra told USA Today. “That tells me they value him not only as a football player, but what he’s done for the organization. I actually, as an agent, not only appreciate it — I accept it. But actions speak louder than words. If that’s going to happen, and you want to keep him, then show him a commitment to make him retire as a Viking. And I haven’t had that solution.”
When an agent says he wants a team to show a player a commitment, what he means is that he wants the team to show him the money. But the Vikings are already scheduled to pay Peterson $46 million over the next three years, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL. It’s just not realistic to think the Vikings will give Peterson a raise, and it’s hard to see any reason the Vikings should agree to guarantee that money.
Instead, the Vikings will tell Peterson that he needs to play under his current contract. Dogra now seems to be acknowledging that Peterson will do that.
