The Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson would appear to have figured out a way to improve their relationship. The Vikings announced on Tuesday that they had agreed to restructure Peterson's contract for the final three years. The details are not fully known, but Pro Football Talk is reporting the restructured deal includes $20 million in guarantees. They are reporting some of that is fully guaranteed while some is only for injury.
Charles Robinson was the first to report on the deal, tweeting that it included additional guaranteed money in 2015 and 2016, but leaves Peterson unprotected for 2017. PFT speculated the money could be a full guarantee of his 2015 salary and bonuses ($13 million), and the remaining $7 million in the form of injury protection. Prior to the re-structure, Peterson was due $12.75 million this year, $14.75 million in 2016 and $16.75 million in 2017, as well as $250,000 in workout bonuses each year.
Peterson and the Vikings have had a tumultuous relationship over the last year. Peterson was arrested for child abuse, and eventually pled no contest to a misdmeanor. He was suspended by the NFL and is dealing with them in court, but he also was displeased with the lack of guarantees in his contract. At one point there was talk he would be traded or released. However, he ended up appearing at the team's voluntary workouts, and it seems like they have re-built the relationship.
Peterson and the Vikings will be in Santa Clara in less than two months, facing the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. It is the latter half of the Week 1 MNF double-header, which means east coast folks will be half asleep when the second half of the game gets going. But it will provide 49ers fans with a big first regular season glance at the team. The Vikings bring a strong secondary to the table, but that offense will be something to watch. Teddy Bridgewater showed a lot last year, and potentially a full season of Peterson could mean big things for them. They will be an excellent season-opening test for the new-look 49ers defense.