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Adrian Peterson is looking to leave the Minnesota Vikings, but the Vikes do not want to release AP.

Source: File – Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during a game against the Green Bay Packers on December 30, 2012 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andy Clayton King/Getty Images) / Getty

After one year away from the game and a child abuse scandal, former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson is trying to get a fresh start. He’s dying to get free from the Minnesota Vikings, but the Vikes are planning on keeping the running back.

Even though AP is under contract until 2017, his agent has stated that the Vikings organization isn’t a right fit.

What is for sure is that Peterson has been an absolute monster on the field. In his eight NFL seasons, he has failed to reach the 1,000 yard mark in just two seasons: in 2011, when he had an ACL tear, and in 2014 due to his suspension. He has scored at least 10 rushing touchdowns in seven of his eight seasons.

SEE ALSO: Twentysomething NFL Players Are Retiring Early… Here’s Why More Will Follow

When on his game, he is the best runner in the league. His mix of speed, strength and vision makes him stand out in a league full of physical freaks. He’s due a base salary of 12.75 million dollars this upcoming season.

But with the strikes against him, is it smart for a team to invest in him?

Child Abuse Scandal

Peterson was involved in a crazy scandal over the way he disciplined his four-year-old son with a switch. The incident created shock waves around the country, and the court of public opinion was against AP from the start.

Despite having his indefinite suspension lifted by the NFL, he is seen as a tainted player. Is the PR headache that comes along with a player like him worth it?

His Age

AP is now 30 years old, and that number is an indicator. Studies have shown that a running back’s production after 27 years old faces a real drop.

These days, the idea of paying NFL running backs top salaries has also gone out the door. Teams can find a solid and productive runner late in the NFL draft or through free agency.

SEE ALSO: Frank Gore and Brandon Marshall Among Many To Switch Teams In Crazy NFL Free Agency

His Character

Peterson was once seen as a model citizen in the NFL. He wouldn’t make headlines for anything other than his outstanding plays on the field. Aside from the aforementioned child abuse scandal, he was in the center of another scandal when his use of funds from his All Day charity came under heavy scrutiny.

According to a report by the Minnesota Star Tribune, “[Peterson] was at the center of an incident in an Eden Prairie hotel room that resulted in an accusation of rape and triggered a lengthy police investigation.

“The 38-page police report details a night of drinking, arguing and sex that involved the running back, two relatives — including Peterson’s brother, a minor — and four women, in various pairs. One of those present, Chris Brown, a Peterson relative who lives with him in Eden Prairie, told police that he paid for the room using a company credit card for Peterson’s All Day, Inc.”

The number of children the star running back has is a bit of mystery. It is rumored that he has as many as seven children, but he has never confirmed this. In an interview with ESPN in 2013 he was asked point-blank how many children he has, and he declined to answer directly. He stated, “I know the truth, and I’m comfortable with that knowledge.”

To make matters worse, he met one of his children for the first time while on his death bed in 2013. Before that he did not have any contact with the  child.

If you were an NFL executive, would you invest in AP?

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Is Former NFL ‘Model Citizen’ Adrian Peterson Still Really Worth $12.7M?  was originally published on theurbandaily.com