Will he stay or will he go now?
The second week of free agency was dominated by a player three years from reaching the open market.
Adrian Peterson's camp and the Vikings brass spent the week posturing.
Peterson still wants out of Minnesota, NFL Media's Albert Breer reported Friday. That news came just hours after general manager Rick Spielman emphatically reiterated his intention to keep his star running back.
Spielman knows the best player in franchise history is digging in his heels. With Peterson under contract through 2017, though, the general manager has leverage of his own.
So what's the end game? Will the Vikings succeed in building a bridge back to Minnesota? Or will they be forced to acknowledge that a fresh start is best for all parties involved?
While they wrestle with that franchise-altering decision, the Cardinals are lurking, perhaps ready to pounce.
Here's what else we learned in the second week of free agency:
- The most stunning news of the week was the retirement of 49ers tackling sensationChris Borland, who entered the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation despite starting just eight games. The 49ers are reeling from the surprising retirements of Borland and five-time All-Pro Patrick Willis, two of the NFL's 10 best inside linebackers.
- Peterson wasn't the only member of the 2014 Exempt/Commissioner's Permission List to make news. Ex-Panthers pass rusher Greg Hardy, the last of the impact free agents, signed an incentive-laden one-year contract with the Cowboys. Hardy did better than expected with a ceiling of $13.1 million, but the deal also protects Dallas in the event of a suspension.
- Charles Clay's contract opened eyes this week as well. The tight end will earn more money than Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham over the next two years after the Dolphinsopted against matching the Bills' five-year, $38 million offer for Miami's transition player. Rex Ryan has a passel of new toys in Buffalo. Does he have a quarterback capable of taking advantage of that talent influx?
- One player who won't be changing teams is Philip Rivers, who plans to play out his contract in San Diego this season. Despite Rivers' stance, the Chargers have no intention of letting Rivers go when they can simply wield the franchise tag in 2016.
- In other quarterback news, the Eagles worked out former University of Florida All-American Tim Tebow, who hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since 2011. Tebow's return to the NFL is not imminent.
- While Tebow awaits another shot at the NFL, the Raiders extended 2012 draft bust Trent Richardson a lifeline with a two-year contract worth as much as $4 million. After making a serious push for 2014 Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray, Oakland settled for the running back with the second-lowest yards-per-carry average since the 1970 merger.
- Two of the busiest teams this week were the Texans and Browns. Houston added a pair of quality starters in former Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork and ex-Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts. Cleveland bolstered its defense with former Packers cornerback Tramon Williams and ex-Dolphins defensive tackle Randy Starks. The wide receiving corps got a boost in former Chiefs No. 1 targetDwayne Bowe.
- The Browns attempted to upgrade at quarterback as well, but were rebuffed in their offer of a first-round pick for Sam Bradford.
- The Super Bowl champions turned to Eagles castoffBradley Fletcher for cornerback depth after losing Darrelle Revis to the division-rival Jets.
- With the NFL Annual Meeting set to kick off this weekend, 23 rule changes and four bylaw changes were proposed this week. Although the NFL will discuss the language in the rules of what constitutes a catch, there is no proposal on the table to overhaul the controversial rule. Another item that will not be put to a vote is playoff expansion, which seems to have been shifted to the back burner.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast makes some bold free agency predictions and discusses Adrian Peterson's future. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
