MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Vikings officials continued to line up in support of Adrian Peterson's return to the team.
Speaking with Twin Cities reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday, general manager Rick Spielman said, "We expect Adrian Peterson to be part of our football team."
Those comments came less than a week after team president Mark Wilf said the Vikings would welcome Peterson back, and COO Kevin Warren said he thought Peterson's return would be a good thing for the player, the team and the fan base.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported in November that Warren had been working with the NFL to keep Peterson from returning during the 2014 season, when he was eventually suspended for the season after pleading no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless injury for disciplining his 4-year-old son with a switch in May.
Peterson can't be reinstated until April 15, though the NFL Players Association is suing the league in federal court to expedite Peterson's return. Peterson turns 30 next month, and it remains to be seen whether the Vikings would keep the running back on his current contract, which calls for him to make a base salary of $12.75 million next season. Peterson told ESPN in December he didn't see why he would need to take a pay cut, and Spielman would not address Peterson's contract status with reporters Wednesday.
"I think our whole organization is on that same page,'' Spielman said. "What team wouldn't want an Adrian Peterson-talent? He's unique player that you don't see come around too often, and Adrian's been a key part of our organization. He's made a mistake. He's doing everything, and he's got to follow through and rectify and do the things the NFL is requiring him to do.''
The Vikings cannot have contact with Peterson during his suspension. Emily Cooper, Peterson's attorney, said last week that the running back has been complying with a child protective services petition filed in Hennepin County in September, which barred Peterson from use of corporal punishment and required him to follow the recommendations of a valid parenting assessment.