The Arizona Cardinals are expected to part ways with Adrian Peterson in the offseason. While he is already being counted out by most fans, the veteran running back is not yet ready to call it quits.
With Peterson expected to hit free agency, several teams are still expected to reach out to the veteran. Dan Parzych of Ramblin Fan suggested that the Los Angeles Rams should make a run at signing the former NFL Most Valuable Player in the offseason.
Adrian Peterson not ready to retire
Peterson is now a shadow of the running back who dominated the league back in 2012 during his MVP season.
However, the 32-year-old is confident that he still has a lot of gas left in his tank.
The seven-time Pro Bowl told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press that he knows he can still play the game at a high level. In fact, Peterson said that he is still looking to play “4 to 5 more years” in the league.
Why signing Adrian Peterson makes sense for Los Angeles Rams
While Peterson did not get a lot of opportunities this season, he actually showed flashes of brilliance in some games. During Arizona’s 38-33 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, the Texas native rushed for 134 yards with two touchdowns. And in their 20-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, he also posted 159 yards in 37 attempts.
Basing on his excellent performances last season, Parzych suggested that the Rams should sign Peterson as a backup to Todd Gurley.
He added that the four-time First Team All-Pro “could help take some of the pressure off Gurley” if needed, making their top running back fresh for a possible Super Bowl run.
Malcolm Brown was Gurley’s backup this season, and the 24-year-old played the role very well and earned praises from his coaches and teammates. Brown will become a free agent after this season, and might sign elsewhere if given an offer that is too hard to pass up for a backup.
Re-signing Brown will also be a good move for Los Angeles. Parzych said, though, that if the Rams want to have a better chance in the playoffs next season, they should sign an experienced backup running back. Peterson fits the billing, as he has also accepted the fact that he will likely be a backup in the remaining years of his career.
Signing with the Rams also makes sense for Peterson. It will give him a strong chance of competing for a Super Bowl title next season. The Rams fell short in their bid this year, as they absorbed a 26-13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the wild-card round.
