Saints Players React To Adrian Peterson Signing Two-Year Deal With Team

Adrian Peterson signed a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints early Tuesday, and the team’s players didn’t take long to react to the news on Twitter.

Saints Stars React to Adrian Peterson’s Two-Year, $7M Deal

The former Minnesota Vikings running back’s new contract is worth $7 million, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, and includes $3.5 million guaranteed in 2017, as well as a one-year option and a maximum of $8.25 million in incentives.

Rapoport added that New Orleans was the only team to formally offer Peterson, 32, a deal this offseason. The running back first visited the city two weeks ago as a free agent and the Saints took a continual interest in him.

“I am excited to be joining the New Orleans Saints,” Peterson told ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “I’m really looking forward to this opportunity. Most importantly, I chose this team because it just felt right within my spirit. Additionally, my wife and family added their confirmation with the same feelings.

“On offense, it goes without saying that the Saints are really solid behind Drew Brees. I feel like my skill set can make them even more dominant as a unit. They have a great offensive line, which is something that stood out to me as well. I could tell from talking to head coach Sean Payton over the last two weeks that he did his due diligence in evaluating how I could contribute. I also did a lot of homework on the defense as well. While I know that injuries have played a role in performance, I also see areas of potential with a lot of younger guys having the ability to step up. Lastly, it goes without saying that the Saints have an amazing fan base and I look forward to making them proud and creating everlasting memories.”

Three Saints players took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to express similar excitement over Peterson’s move to New Orleans: safety Kenny Vaccaro, quarterback Chase Daniel, and linebacker Nathan Stupar. 

Peterson will hope to add depth to the Saints’ rushing game alongside starting running back Mark Ingram, a 27-year-old former first-round pick with two years remaining on his contract.

Ingram is coming off the best season of his career, 1,043 yards on 205 carries for a 5.1-yard per tote average with six touchdowns for New Orleans. He also added 46 catches for 319 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

The Saints lost veteran backup running back Tim Hightower to free agency. Hightower signed with the San Francisco 49ers last week.

Peterson, who spent his first ten NFL seasons with the Vikings, played only three games last season due to a torn meniscus suffered on Sept. 18. He returned in less than three months from that injury to play against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 18. However, he sat out Minnesota’s final two games because of an adductor strain he sustained in his first game back. He finished the season with 72 yards on 37 carries.

The running back, whose career rushing yards rank second to Frank Gore among active players, led the NFL in rushing yards in 2015 with 1,485. Peterson recovered from ACL surgery on his left knee to rush for 2,097 yards in 2012 and win the MVP. He has said he hopes to play football until his late 30s.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 18: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers on September 18, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)