The Sports Xchange

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is a no-show at team workouts. Head coach Mike Zimmer continues to send the united message stated by multiple members of the franchise that it is the only football option for the All-Pro back.

“He’s really got two choices – he can either play for us or he cannot play. He’s not going to play for anybody else,” Zimmer said Wednesday at team headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn., on the second day of Organized Team Activities.

Peterson, 30, said in February he was “uneasy” about returning to the Vikings after spending most of the 2014 season on the commissioner’s exempt list. Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra, maintains Minnesota is not the best option for Peterson.

However, he is under contract to the Vikings through 2017 and when the rubber meets the road in September, when Peterson’s $12.75 million contract is guaranteed, most in the building expect Peterson will be on hand to collect.

Peterson met with Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman in March, well before the 2015 NFL Draft and speculation placed Peterson with the Dallas Cowboys or Arizona Cardinals in a trade that would include draft compensation. But when the third day of the draft passed with no action on Peterson, his fate was likely sealed in a return to the Vikings.

“I know there’s a lot of things that are out there. I don’t know when he’s coming,” Zimmer said Wednesday. “Just leave it at that.”

The Vikings owe Peterson $46 million over the next three seasons. CBS Sports reported Monday night that Peterson would not meekly return to Minnesota and would even consider retirement if the Vikings forced his hand.