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 "It feels good to be back in the building," Peterson, 30, said in a
news conference in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, following the team's
offseason training activities.
"I've learned a lot from my mistake and I'm moving forward. I'm
focused on what's in front of me and bettering myself as a person
and professionally as a player."
Peterson, reinstated from his ban by the NFL in April, skipped last
week's voluntary training activities amid questions about whether he
would ever return to the team or try to force the Vikings to send
him to another club.
But head coach Mike Zimmer last week made clear that the 2012 NFL
Most Valuable Player and six-time Pro Bowl selection was "not going
to play for anybody else," telling reporters, "Adrian, he's really
got two choices. He can either play for us or he cannot play."
Peterson, Minnesota's all-time leading rusher with 10,190 yards, is
due to be paid a $12.75 million salary this season by the Vikings,
who said they had no intention of trading him.
"I love this kid, I really do," Zimmer told the news conference,
adding that Peterson was "important to me, to my program, my coaches
and to the rest of our football team. The players were all hugging
him today."
Peterson played in only one game last season after being embroiled
in the child-abuse case.
He pleaded no contest in November to a misdemeanor charge of
reckless assault for disciplining his 4-year-old son by repeatedly
striking him with a thin tree branch called a switch.
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In 2011, Peterson signed a six-year, $96 million contract extension
with the Vikings. He has three years left on the deal but there is
no more guaranteed money in his contract.
Peterson said he did not address the team, but was greeted by smiles
and hugs. "I haven't been in the building for a long time but the
love was there."
Zimmer said it was a pleasure to see Peterson back on the field.
"There’s really not a prettier sight than when he has the ball in
his hands."
(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Additional reporting by
Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Will Dunham/Frank Pingue)
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