Washington Football Team Cuts Future NFL Hall-of-Famer Adrian Peterson

After being cut by the Washington Football Team as clubs trim to their rosters to 53 players prior to Saturday’s deadline, running back Adrian Peterson is a free agent.

Peterson, the last non-quarterback to be named NFL MVP, seemed like he would be the likely starter in Washington after Derrius Guice was released earlier this summer. But, apparently that will not be the case.

“It comes as a surprise. I didn’t feel I showed anything that would warrant being released,” Peterson told ESPN. “I definitely want to play.”

By cutting Peterson, Washington saves just over $2.4 million in cap space and the team will now move forward with some combination of third-round pick Antonio Gibson, Bryce Love, Peyton Barber and J.D. McKissic in the backfield.

A surefire Hall-of-Famer with a complicated legacy away from the football field, Peterson will likely get a shot with another team this season, his 14th in the NFL.

Possible landing spots include the Jaguars, Chiefs, Patriots, Steelers, Bears, Eagles and Seahawks, according to ProFootballTalk.

But, it also may make sense for the 35-year-old running back to wait for a job the way he waits for a hole to open up in the defense in order to maximize his on-field opportunity and his paycheck.

“Peterson’s best option may be to wait for an inevitable injury to a starter,” according to PFT. “Running backs get injured all the time. This year, with limited hitting in camp and no preseason, it may just be a matter of time until a starting tailback on a contending team ends up out for the year. That’s when Peterson could come in and not just fill a spot on the depth chart but move the chains consistently, as he always has.”

Trailing Barry Sanders by 1,053 yards for fourth place on the NFL’s career list with 14,216, Peterson ranks fourth all-time with 111 rushing touchdowns.

Over the past two years in Washington, the longtime Minnesota Viking led the team in rushing with 1,940 yards and 12 touchdowns.