“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

That is a famous quote largely attributed to former Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi.  In actuality, the first person to coin the phrase was former UCLA head football coach Red Sanders.

Although winning has and always will be important, due to the ultra-competitive nature of everyone involved with professional football, it is no longer “everything,” or “the only thing.”

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to most, but money is everything and the only thing in professional football.

Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings have restructured the three years remaining on his contract, equating to more guaranteed money for the future Hall of Fame running back and convicted child abuser.

“This agreement is a win for both Adrian and the Vikings and is a positive step toward Adrian finishing his career as a Minnesota Viking,” Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. “As we have consistently said, Adrian is a valuable part of the Vikings organization and we look forward to his return to the field.”

The Vikings also released a statement on behalf of Peterson that read: “I appreciate the Vikings for working together on this restructured contract, which provides additional security for me but also allows opportunities for me to further prove my value to the team and within the NFL.

“It was important for me to continue my career in Minnesota, and I cannot wait to get on the field in front of Vikings fans again.”

It’s amazing how both the Vikings and “Purple Jesus” can effectively kiss and make up, when the offseason was spent talking about trades and ultimatums.

Again, money makes the NFL world go around.

It’s surprising that Peterson and his agent, Ben Dogra were able to make this happen.  Peterson missed all but one game of last season serving on the Commissioner’s Exempt List which allowed him to collect nearly $13 million.

After a plea of no contest on a misdemeanor reckless assault on his own child, one would assume that Peterson would have little to no leverage to get a new deal done.

Whether or not you believe in physically disciplining your children, no rational parent, or human being can condone these marks left on a child.

Minnesota didn’t want to suspend Peterson last season, but public pressure led to him being placed on the Commissioner’s List (which nobody knew existed prior to the incident).  They deactivated him for one game while national a outcry had some considering taking a torch to the Vikings facilities.

Peterson and his agent felt betrayed by the Vikings earlier in the offseason after the way they handled the situation, as he told ESPN.com that he was “uneasy about returning to the team.”

Reality shows that Peterson has been the one convicted of child abuse, getting paid the entire time and Minnesota has been nothing but faithful and loyal.

Now the Vikings have rewarded him monetarily for….what exactly?

Make no mistake, this is yet another black eye to the NFL’s growing reputation as a league that rewards domestic abusers, child abusers and other drug addicts as long as they can help a team win (and thus make more money).