Vikings Adrian Peterson Rants about NFL Teams and the Union on Twitter
Adrian Peterson, who was reinstated by the NFL in April, is still very frustrated with the league. On Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings running back went on a Twitter rank criticizing NFL teams for not honoring contracts and the union for not backing up its players.
Peterson's series of tweets is "not against the Vikings." Instead, Peterson stated that he is "frustrated that [the] union did not get guaranteed contracts for its players."
I love people who think they know it all! Smh, Research how many NFL teams hasn't honored a player's contract & learn something.
— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
Question for the people, is a contract two sided or one? — Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
Ok great two sided! Well why when one party decides ... Mr. ? we wan't you to take a pay cut now or better yet flat out release you!
— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
There's never no talk about honoring a contract! — Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
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, 2015
Feels 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, 2015
All 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, 2015
To clarify, since analysts & everyone else have the answers to what place in MY Heart this "rant" came from...
— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
This is not against the Vikings. I am just frustrated that our union did not get guaranteed contracts for its players. — Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
NFL players deserve guaranteed contacts like Our NBA and MLB brothers.
— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
. Owners have the right to release players, at will, without honoring their contracts. — Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 28, 2015
However, players do not have the luxury of saying that they want out of their contract. And I won't even get into the franchise tag convo
— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 29, 2015
#PlayersUnion #TogetherAchangeWillcome — Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) May 29, 2015
The 2012 NFL MVP was suspended by the league for the majority of last season due to child abuse charges. When he was reinstated, Peterson and his agent were very vocal about leaving the Vikings and starting over somewhere else. Peterson also reportedly did not feel like the Vikings supported him enough throughout his case. However, the Vikings were adamant about keeping their star player in Minnesota and outwardly stated that they will not be trading him.
Peterson has voluntarily skipped three days of the optional practices that took place this week. Although the practices are optional, Vikings head coach spoke out about Peterson.
Coach Mike Zimmer said on the second day of the optional practices, "He's really got two choices. He can either play for us or he cannot play. He's not going to play for anybody else and that's just the way it's going to be. I don't know when he's coming and we'll just leave it at that."
Peterson has skipped optional practices before. However, if he skips all of the offseason team workouts this year, he will be forfeiting a $250,000 bonus.
Peterson has three years and $46 million left on his contract. None of that money is guaranteed. He will make $12.75 million next year, $15 million in 2016 and $16 million in 2017, including an additional $250,000 for attending the workouts each year.
