EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said the team has not talked to Adrian Peterson or his agent about the running back's contract for the 2017 season, but Spielman said no matter what happens with Peterson in the next two weeks, "Adrian will always be a Minnesota Viking."
Peterson, who turns 32 on March 21, has a team option for the 2017 season that would pay him $18 million and trigger a $6 million roster bonus if he's on the roster by the third day of the league year. The Vikings have to make a decision on Peterson's option by the start of the league year on March 9, but it has seemed likely the team would try to work out a restructured deal with Peterson if it planned to keep him, rather than bringing him back on the option.