One of the greatest running back of all time, Adrian Peterson, has been released from Washington Football Team this morning.
The team itself confirmed the news, releasing a statement on the Twitter account, in which they thank the veteran star. Peterson spent two years in Washington, playing above all the expectations after a slow episode in New Orleans and Arizona.
He would rush for 12 touchdowns and 1,940 yards in total, over 31 games during 2018 and 2019, all of them as a starter.
This move of the franchise from the capital comes as a big surprise, because nobody expected something like this. Peterson was with the team during the entire training camp, and according to the sources around the organization, he was doing an excellent job. Apart from being in superb shape, he was also mentoring younger guys who looked up to the 35-year old.
But it seems that his age presented a big issue for the WFT who wants to enter the process of a complete restructure. Peterson’s backups are all young players, who have the potential to grow and develop, which is why the management decided to release Peterson and make room for them.
Antonio Gibson, a third-round pick, Peyton Barber, Bryce Love, last year’s fourth-round choice, and JD McKissic are now competing for the starting RB position.
Peterson was entering the second season of his two-year deal worth $8 million. When joining the Redskins at the time, he signed a one-year contract for a veteran minimum, because nobody believed in his productivity anymore. However, Peterson had 1.042 yards with seven TDs, posting his eighth 1,000+ yard season.
Arguably one of the biggest names in the history of professional football, Peterson had a stellar career. Picked by the Minnesota Vikings as the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft he would immediately become a regular starter and one of the best running backs in the entire league.
Powerful running style earned him an Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, and the Second-team All-Pro the same season. In 2012, Peterson won the NFL MVP honors, ending the campaign just eight yards (2,097) shy of Erick Dickerson’s record for most rushing yards in one season.
AP has seven All-Pro selections, seven Pro-Bowl appearances, was the NFL rushing yards leader three times, and rushing TD leader on two occasions. Peterson is a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade team.