Adrian Peterson Signs With New Orleans Saints
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) – One of the Minnesota Vikings most popular players has signed with a new team.
The NFL announced Tuesday morning that Adrian Peterson will play for the New Orleans Saints. So far, all of the terms of Peterson's contract have come from ESPN reporter Josina Anderson, who says Peterson plans to sign a two-year deal with the Saints worth $7 million.
Adrian Peterson tells me he plans to sign with the #Saints on a 2 yr deal, effectively a (1 + 1op) term worth a base value of $7M. (Cont.)
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 25, 2017
The NFL followed up with a tweet shortly after the announcement saying hey Saints fans, the new running back in town? He's pretty good.
Hey @Saints fans...
The new RB in town?He's pretty good. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/fUSXfWKAei
— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Saints announced early Tuesday afternoon that they've agreed to a contract with Peterson. We learned back in February that the Vikings would not be renewing Peterson's contract. He's been a free agent since early March.
His jerseys are on sale, priced to sell today at U.S. Bank Stadium. Vikings fans had mixed reactions on the move.
"It's really disappointing. I feel like Minnesota needs him because I feel like he's a good player. He fumbles at times, but he's a good player overall," Sherman Banks said.
"Not that if he couldn't do it here, he couldn't do it there. But he's too old and I think with having a year and then almost two years off, he's not gonna come back to the guy we drafted," Jason Turner said.
Adrian Peterson gave a statement to ESPN reporter Josina Anderson, saying in part: "I'm really looking forward to this opportunity. Most importantly, I chose this team because it just felt right within my spirit."
Peterson will earn less than incumbent Saints starter Mark Ingram, who's coming off the best season of his career. Peterson is expected to carry a lighter load.
Peterson, 32, has spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, surpassing 1,000 yards rushing in a season seven times and 2,000 yards once. His career-best 2,097-yard rushing season in 2012 came one season after he had reconstructive knee surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Peterson played in only three games last season before being sidelined by another knee injury, a meniscal tear that was surgically repaired. He also missed 15 games in 2014 because of a child abuse case in which he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless assault. The victim was his son, then 4 years old.
Peterson's last full season was in 2015, when he had 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing.
To make things more interesting is the schedule is out for 2017-18 season. The Vikings will host the Saints in their regular season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 11, Monday Night Football. The game will be aired here on WCCO-TV.
So we'll be seeing Peterson back in U.S. Bank Stadium, just not in purple and gold.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)