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Report: Zimmer Thinks Peterson Will Return To Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer thinks Adrian Peterson might return to the team if he's reinstated into the NFL next spring, according to a report from ESPN.com.

Last week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the star running back for violating the league's personal conduct policy. That decision stemmed from Peterson pleading no contest earlier this month to assault charges for disciplining his 4-year-old son with a switch in Texas.

Goodell told Peterson he won't be considered for reinstatement until April 2015.

Peterson is appealing his suspension, and he said that if he returns to the NFL it might be best to have a "fresh start" with a new team. While he said that many Vikings players have supported him, feelings towards him in the organization are mixed.

Still, Zimmer told ESPN he thinks Peterson wants to be back in Minnesota.

"You have to ask him. I don't know," the coach is quoted as saying. "But I know he does have an awful lot of people here who have supported him, and I don't know who he's speaking of who doesn't.

"All I know of Adrian is that he's always been great with me, always done what I've asked him to do, and I kind of go by what I see."

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