We see it pretty differently then.Mothman wrote: He owes them no more than they owe him and I don't think their loyalty to him has ever extended beyond their own business and football interests.
Peterson's not in a position to take the best offer the market puts on the table unless the Vikings cut him. I doubt he'll be overly unreasonable about a renegotiation. I'm sure he and his representatives understand it's necessary. As I've said many times, it was clear when his current deal was signed that it was essentially a 2 year deal. Everyone involved knows he's not getting $18 million to play next year. How much he will want is purely a matter of conjecture but I suspect his representatives will also advise him that at his age, coming off a serious injury, the market will be limited.
It's up to the Vikes to make a reasonable offer if they want him to renegotiate and it's up to him to be reasonable in return. I think they do owe each other that much. If they can't come to terms it will be a shame.
For one, I think few clubs would have stuck by AD like the Vikings did, especially given the huge amount of money that we paid him even though he wasn't helping the team to win (and he certainly didn't help the image of the team through the scandal either). Did we the Vikings do it because they believed it was in their best interest? Yes, of course. It's a business.
My read of this situation is that AD is going to overvalue his services; he doesn't strike me as a very self aware individual, and I think he has a very inflated idea of what he's going to be able to do as he gets into his early to mid thirties. I am surprised to read that you doubt he'll be overly unreasonable: what about him gives you that impression? Everything I've read about the guy points in the exact opposite direction.