This off-season is stupid. I use that in the most endearing way possible, because I honestly cannot get enough of the unexpected visits, interesting free agent signings, and the wild rumors that are swirling in the sky just a couple months away from hurricane season. The latest wave in the sea of speculation now surrounds where Adrian Peterson will wind up playing in 2017. The best running back of his generation is without a home since the Vikings decided not to re-sign him to a contract. The Patriots and Seahawks have interviewed Peterson but no deal was reached. Now, Peterson plans on meeting with the Saints next week and even though some think New England makes the most sense, I think this is a the type of signing the Saints should make “All Day!”
Rumor is that Peterson did not sign with New England nor Seattle because he did not feel 100% on board with their offensive schemes, I.E. they do not plan on giving Peterson the amount of carries he is used to. If Peterson is expecting to get a feature back’s load of the work in New Orleans, then he is foolish. I highly doubt he is making the visit thinking that. Adrian Peterson is either buying time before he can sign with a winner like New England or he realizes that if there is any team like him in the NFL right now, it is the New Orleans Saints.
Adrian Peterson is an all-time great, but like so many all-time greats he lacks the one thing that can validate them, a championship ring. He is into his 30s now and time is slipping away. The New Orleans Saints are a team in a very similar situation. Led by Sean Payton and Drew Brees, this era of the franchise has been great simply because they won a Super Bowl. But in this era of the NFL, to have your franchise recognized as one of the best, you need multiple championships. Brees may have racked up stats, but unlike Ben, Eli, Manning, and yeah, Brady, he does not have multiple Super Bowls. The Saints and Adrian Peterson are both pretty damn good, but they both have a lot to prove. Why not join forces?
This is the NFL though and I would be foolish if I did not suspect there was some other agenda at hand with Adrian Peterson visiting the Saints. Maybe he is just showing up to say “you’re welcome” for fumbling in the NFC Championship game all those years ago? Or maybe he is just trying to get leverage on the Patriots and biding his time? Hell, these are the Patriots we are talking about and we know about Sean Payton’s relationship with Bill Belichick; maybe Peterson is visiting and Payton is going to tell him why it is such a good idea to sign with New England? It wouldn’t be that odd since we have speculated about Payton’s strange allegiance to Belichick before. Signing Peterson to carry a light load and be a locker room leader makes sense for the Saints, but don’t get too excited just yet Saints fans! This NFL off-season is a Funhouse. You always need to be aware of the smoke and mirrors.