In an altercation that got so heated that the men reportedly had to be separated, Adrian Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra, told Minnesota Vikings president Rob Brzezinski that the running back would never suit up for his team again.
The men were pulled apart by former Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik who now works for ESPN, according to reports. They butted heads Monday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis where Dogra is presumably working with clients. The Vikings and Dogra are not commenting on the matter.
Peterson could be re-instated after April 15, but a pending suit from the NFL Players’ Association could get him legal even before then. Peterson hinted last week that he was looking beyond the Vikings last week and reports even emerged, then refuted, that he was demanding a trade to the Dallas Cowboys.
Peterson appeared in just one game last season before being put on the Commissioner’s Exempt List as a de facto suspension after he was arrested for child abuse. If you can call that a “season,” it would be only the second of his career that he didn’t pass at least 1,200 yards and score at least 10 touchdowns.
Panthers will reportedly part ways with DeAngelo Williams
The Carolina Panthers will have to replace the franchise’s all-time leading rusher after the DeAngelo Williams told a local television station that he has been cut. According to Williams, both he will hit the streets officially after June 1.
“We sat down, and he told me, ‘The fact of the matter is we’re going to have to release you,'” Williams told WBTV. “I said, you know, ‘Why?’ and he said, ‘Because we don’t run the ball enough. Just like you said back before the season started, we don’t run the ball enough to keep you and (Jonathan Stewart] both, so we’re going to release you.'”
The Panthers can’t officially announce the release yet because they want to cut Williams after June 1 to save $2 million on 2015’s salary cap.
For his part, Williams is ready to hit the market and wishes Stewart the best as the Panthers’ featured back.
“He (Stewart) had the hot hand at the end of the season,” Williams said. “He’s a great running back, obviously. I don’t feel bitter at all. It’s a business. And that business comes back and reminds us year after year… it’s going to happen to every guy in that locker room, so it doesn’t bother me at all.”
Williams’ best season was seven years ago when he rushed for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns. He hasn’t passed 1,000 yards since 2009.
Indianapolis says au revoir to Francois
Ricky Jean Francois has a solid season for the Indianapolis Colts in 2014, but not solid enough to justify his $22 million contract so the team cut him loose Monday. Francois was due $5.5 million in 2015 and cutting him will save the Colts $4,875 in salary cap space.
The move is a puzzling one fro the Colts considering they have tons of projected salary cap space already and Francois was far from a bum at nose tackle, recording three sacks and 28 tackles for the team last year. Francois is still young at just 28 and in shape at 6-foot-3 and 297 pounds. He should have no trouble landing with another team that runs a 3-4 defense.
Giants will franchise tag Pierre-Paul if they must
Unless the team can reach an agreement with their star defensive end by March 2, the New York Giants will hit Jason Pierre-Paul with the franchise tag. The tag will pay JPP around $15 million if he and the Giants can’t agree to a long-term deal.
The Giants have shed star defensive lineman at an alarming rate over the past few seasons and can’t afford to let Pierre-Paul go. At just 26, he’d never last a week and should expect a deal in the $14 million a year range.
JPP had 77 tackles and 12.5 sacks to go with his three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and six passes defended.
