Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson went on a Twitter rant about his contract situation, fueling speculation that the former NFL Most Valuable Player is really forcing his way out of his team.
Peterson is in an uncertain situation after missing last season when he was placed on commissioner's exempt list after pleading no contest to misdemeanor reckless injury charges against him.
Peterson has yet to appear in training camp for the Vikings, which is sending a strong signal that he is not willing to play for the Vikings anymore. The 30-year-old was frustrated of the Vikings for allegedly not showing enough support to him last season when he was dealing with the misdemeanor issues.
Peterson is still in contract with the Vikings until the 2017 season. He is scheduled to earn $12.75 million this season, $15 million in 2016 and $16 million in 2017, including $250,000 workout bonus every year.
However, there is no more guaranteed money in the deal. It means the Vikings could release him without paying any amount and the situation seemed to be the subject of the series of tweets from Peterson.
I know hundreds of player's that wished their team would've HONORED the contract! But instead got threw to the side like like trash.
"” Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
A lill crazy how one side has so much power that they can do as they please when it come to the contract! But when the other-side (player's) "” Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015Feels for whatever reason! Family, Change of scenery or simply - what they feels just might work best for them! Those same laws don't apply!
"” Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
It's all about honoring you're contract! Sounds like free will is being a lil challenged to me! "” Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015All I'm saying as a Minnesota Viking player! WE need the same power to do as all 32 teams do we they feel, under contract or not!
"” Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
It's time for a change! Then again I'm grateful because at the end of the day, I know some of those same guys that wish a team held on! "” Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015Peterson clarified later on that his rant was not directed to the Vikings despite reports that he is waiting for a trade. He said that he is frustrated because the player's union failed to make moves to get more guarantees for players -- similar to NBA and MLB players -- because owners are taking advantage by releasing players at will.
"Owners have the right to release players, at will, without honoring their contracts," Peterson wrote. "However, players do not have the luxury of saying that they want out of their contract."
Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer Says Peterson Has Two Choices
Despite reports indicating that Peterson is not willing to stay in Minnesota, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer sent a strong message to their running back.
Zimmer sounded frustrated over Peterson's decision to make himself unavailable for the team's voluntary offseason workouts. The Vikings coach also insisted that Peterson has yet to inform them when he is planning to report to camp for the upcoming season.
Zimmer then reiterated that the Vikings hold the ace and Peterson has two choices. "He's really got two choices: He can play for us. Or he cannot play," the 58-year-old coach told reporters via NFL Network.
Peterson previously said that it will feel "uneasy" to play for the Vikings again and hinted that he wants out of the team. However, Vikings executives insisted earlier this year that they have no plans to release the Texas native.
