The NFL’s annual free agent flurry has come and gone and even the Packers made a splash by signing tight end Martellus Bennett. There are a few stragglers left out there and one of them could certainly help the Packers increase their odds on winning the Super Bowl. That man is Adrian Peterson. Betting sites would go wild if the Packers landed the former Vikings’ superstar.
The Packers are in dire need of help at running back and Peterson needs a job. The longer he stays out there the lower his price gets, and the closer to free that the Packers are looking for. This could end up like when Charles Woodson was signed, he really had no market and it took a while to come together, but worked out wonderfully for both parties. I’m not saying Peterson will have that kind of impact, but he certainly could do enough to get the Packers over the hump. While Peterson was hurt most of last year, two years ago he amassed 1485 yards and a 4.5 yard average, and like this year, that was after what was basically a year off, he was suspended the year before.
Peterson has shown when he is on a mission he is hard to stop. He blew out a knee in the last game of 2011 and came back and won the NFL MVP the next year. Everybody says he is finished now because of his age and injury history, but he thinks otherwise. What better place to prove everybody wrong than Green Bay? A place where he can beat the Vikings a couple of times a year and maybe get a Super Bowl ring to boot.
Would Peterson fit into the Packers’ offense? I think it would be a perfect fit, even though he may have to learn how to take a handoff out of the shotgun on occasion. And if the Packers are committed to Ty Montgomery at running back, who better to learn the ropes from than a future Hall of Famer? The two would give the Packers a formidable one-two punch to go with their new tight end combo and could make the Packers’ the most prolific offense in the league.
The Packers have the cap room and one would think a guy like Peterson is open to an incentive laden deal. It would be better than pinning your hopes on a draft pick in April, as running back, like defensive back, is not Ted Thompson’s strong suit. I say get it done, Aaron Rodgers isn’t getting any younger.