Rick Spielman "Expects" Adrian Peterson To Be A Viking In 2015

On Wednesday, Minnesota Vikings' general manager Rick Spielman answered some questions from the Twin Cities media. Obviously, the topic of Adrian Peterson came up, and Spielman gave a very simple response.

"We expect Adrian Peterson to be part of our football team,'' Spielman said.

Not "we would like" Adrian Peterson to be a part of our football team. . .but "we expect."

Spielman also echoed the team's sentiment about wanting Peterson back in 2015.

"I think our whole organization is on that same page (about wanting Peterson back),'' Spielman said. "What team wouldn't want an Adrian Peterson talent? He's unique player that you don't see come around too often and Adrian's been a key part of our organization. He's made a mistake. He's doing everything and he's got to follow through and rectify and do the things the NFL is requiring him to do.''

He went on to say that he believes that Peterson is taking all of the NFL-mandated steps to be reinstated on 15 April, the earliest date he can be reinstated, barring a victory in his appeal case against the National Football League.

Peterson's reinstatement, as well as what the Vikings do with him after that (which will likely depend on what date he's reinstated) is still the story that is going to drive the team's entire off-season. It will likely control what they do in free agency and, to a lesser extent, what they do in the 2015 NFL Draft. With that being the case, hopefully there will be a resolution sooner rather than later to give the Vikings maximum flexibility, regardless of what they end up doing.