Buccaneers: Adrian Peterson to the Saints Hurts Badly
By Brian DeFeo
Adrian Peterson to the Saints is about as bad for the Buccaneers as it could get.
Two years for $7 million, that’s it. That is what it took to get Adrian Peterson, future Hall of Famer, to sign a minuscule contract with the New Orleans Saints. One of the worst case scenarios for the Buccaneers, Adrian Peterson now teams up with Drew Brees to form a ferocious offense. The Bucs are already in a tough division and now it just got a whole lot tougher.
Adrian Peterson joining the Saints is probably the worst team he could’ve joined with the Panthers, Falcons, and Panthers being right behind. The Panthers actually could’ve used him but they are likely targeting someone with the eighth pick. The Falcons don’t need a running back but if he was added they’d be scarier. And the Patriots just because that would just be devastating for the entire league if he joined them.
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The Saints are probably the worst team for him to join, from a Bucs perspective, because they were not a huge threat to take over the division. The Saints offense now has a way to slow the game down whenever they want and pick it up if they are ever down. Mark Ingram will still be the “lead back” for the Saints but his carries will be cut in half with Peterson.
The Bucs didn’t bring Adrian Peterson in for a visit this off-season even after Jameis Winston worked out with him. If Winston came out and said he wasn’t as surprised with Peterson’s workout as he actually was it’s a different story. Jameis raved about Peterson claiming he’d love to play with him. Dirk Koetter must have have received some interesting assessments because he was definitely intrigued in his press conferences. Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, and Josh Huff were even in on it with AP being photographed with him just hanging out. This decision has to come from the top.
Jason Licht has to have another trick or two up his sleeve because the fact that there was very little swirling around One Buc Place is a bit surprising. The Bucs are in a position where they could be a contender this season with the right pieces. Adding Adrian Peterson is not a bad piece. For the money he’s getting paid right now I would rather the Bucs give him double that and have him not play at all, than having him play for the Saints.
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This one hurts as a Bucs fan. I have to trust in Jason Licht because he has yet to do me wrong. But letting Adrian Peterson go to a division rival for pennies on the dollar is not something I’m happy about. Hopefully we get old worn out AP and not bounce back season, 1,400 yard Adrian Peterson.