Adrian Peterson told Robert Griffin III on a recent podcast that he would like to return to the NFL. The 38-year-old former Pro-Bowler told Griffin on the RG3 and The Ones Podcast that he believes he can still play and would even outperform some of the running backs playing today.
Can Adrian Peterson Still Play?
At the end of the podcast, Griffin asked Peterson a two-part question that broke down to this: Can you play, and do you want to play still? Here’s what AP had to say,
“I can still play, I can still play. I feel like I got the ability to get out there and outperform a lot of these kids that I see playing today, and I definitely still want to play. I still have the passion and the desire and the love to get out there and put my best foot forward.”
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Peterson continued, stating he would like to be on a roster this season.
“God willing, given the opportunity, whether that’s before playoffs here soon, I’ll be ready to go out there and make something happen.”
Griffin, acknowledging that Peterson is built differently, replied that if anyone could rejoin the league and make an impact on a playoff team, he knows it is AP. Now, the question remains: should a team take a chance on bringing Peterson back?
Should Adrian Peterson Still Play?
Realistically, is there a place in the NFL for Adrian Peterson? There are other options in the free agent pool for teams to look into before bringing Peterson on for a tryout. The Los Angeles Rams chose to bring in Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson Jr. when Kyren Williams went down. Players like Leonard Fournette are still available, and Dalvin Cook is willing to move on from the Jets for a better situation.
Considering the five seasons Peterson spent in the league after tearing his meniscus and moving on from Minnesota, things didn’t work well outside of Washington. His two seasons with the Commanders were by far the best of that stretch, with 2018 being AP’s last year with over 1,000 rushing yards. From there, he started ten games in Detroit, averaging 37.8 yards per contest. Peterson’s final season in 2021 saw him start three games for two teams while averaging less than three yards per carry.
In the last game of his career, Peterson rushed 11 times for 16 yards and a touchdown. Unless there is a playoff team that is simply looking for another option at the goal line, it will be hard for a General Manager and coach to give AP an honest look.
Options for Peterson
Many would hate to see Adrian Peterson in the USFL/XFL, but a league like this may be the only option for his return. This has its issues, as these leagues and teams are meant to give younger players more chances to prove they can play professionally. Look at this season alone, and you’ll see the positive impact that spring football has had on the NFL. Taking a spot away from a prospect can only benefit the team with short-term ticket and merchandise sales.
The franchises willing to play Peterson likely won’t be able to offer him what he truly desires: a chance to play meaningful football again.
Looking around the NFL for potential landing spots, it is funny to see the Minnesota Vikings near the bottom of the league in rushing yards per game. Alexander Mattison and Cam Akers are atop the depth chart for now. Peterson previously stated that it’s a ‘no brainer’ for him to retire with the Vikings. Tampa Bay has a history of taking fliers on past-their-prime or project running backs, and we should never count out the Raiders, who are last in the league in rushing and still owned by a member of the Davis family.
In a TMZ interview in 2022, Peterson listed Buffalo, Los Angeles, and San Fransico as ideal landing spots.
-Kev Nivek
*Image: Charlie Neibergall/AP
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