Eric D. Williams 9y

Chargers should pursue Adrian Peterson

SAN DIEGO – In need of an upgrade at running back, San Diego Chargers general manager Tom Telesco should explore every option this offseason through the draft, trade or free agency.

The Chargers called a pass play 63 percent of the time this past season, the 10th-most in the league. The reason for that is San Diego could not get the run game going. The Chargers averaged 3.2 yards per carry on first down -- when defenses know offenses want to run the ball - - which was second-worst in the NFL.

Every-down running back Ryan Mathews is expected to hit the free-agency market in March. The draft is loaded with potential playmakers such as Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, Georgia’s Todd Gurley and Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon.

But one player whose name had not been mentioned in connection to the Chargers is Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. However, in a conversation with Marty Caswell of The Mighty 1090 AM radio, Hall of Famer and former San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson brought up Peterson’s name as a possibility for the Chargers when asked about the chances of Mathews returning to San Diego.

“You have to explore options,” Tomlinson said. “You have to see what Ryan wants – if he wants to be back in San Diego – and then what he’s asking for, because if you have a guy like Adrian Peterson, who might be on the market, then you have to explore that option.”

You can watch the entire interview here.

I agree with Tomlinson. Peterson would be a great fit in San Diego, and Telesco should go after the talented runner.

Peterson was indicted on Sept. 12 for injuring his son in an act of corporal punishment. He was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list on Sept. 17 and suspended for the remainder of the season in November.

Arbitrator Harold Henderson upheld the suspension on Dec. 12, and the NFL Players Association is suing the league on Peterson’s behalf, seeking the running back’s immediate reinstatement and arguing that the appointment of Henderson -- a former league executive -- was unfair.

Under the current terms of his suspension, Peterson cannot be considered for reinstatement until April 15. However, the player’s association is suing to have Peterson reinstated as soon as possible in a case set to begin next month.

Peterson will be 30 in March. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has said he wants Peterson back. Peterson is scheduled to make $13 million and count for $15.4 million against the Vikings’ salary cap next season. Peterson is not interested in taking a pay cut. ESPN Vikings beat reporter Ben Goessling said whether Peterson stays in Minnesota could come down to if he agrees to restructure his deal and make it more cap friendly.

The Chargers have plenty of salary cap space to sign Peterson should the Vikings release him, or they can broker a trade for the running back’s services. And with Peterson playing in just one game in 2014, he will be recharged and ready to play at a high level.

Veteran playersPhilip Rivers and Eric Weddle are at the end of their contracts, and openly questioning San Diego’s commitment to chase a Super Bowl. Signing Peterson would emphatically answer that question for the Chargers.

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