Vikings without Peterson for OTAs

Published 1:27 am Monday, May 25, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings will open their optional team practices this week without Adrian Peterson.

The star running back has told coach Mike Zimmer that he will not attend the three days of team work that begin Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the situation said Sunday night. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

Peterson did attend the optional workouts last summer while Zimmer was orienting himself in his first months on the job, but has skipped them in the past. This time, however, could cost him a $250,000 workout bonus and comes in the context of his expressed unhappiness with the organization.

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Peterson has made it clear through his representatives this offseason that he would like to play elsewhere next season because he does not believe the Vikings showed enough support of him while he was dealing with child abuse charges last season. Peterson missed all but one game last year.

The Vikings have steadfastly maintained that they would not trade Peterson.