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          NFL Nation

          As Vikings decline option, Adrian Peterson moves toward free agency

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          Hoge doesn't see Peterson slowing down (1:28)

          Merrill Hoge examines how much Adrian Peterson has left in the tank after his option was declined by the Vikings. (1:28)

          • Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 28, 2017, 06:59 PM
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            • Previously covered Vikings for St. Paul Pioneer Press
            • Also covered Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild and Washington Nationals
            • Twin Cities native and University of Minnesota graduate
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          MINNEAPOLIS -- Let's start here: The most surprising thing about Tuesday's news that the Minnesota Vikings aren't picking up Adrian Peterson's 2017 option is the mere fact that they announced it nine days before they had to let the world know.

          There was no realistic chance the Vikings were going to exercise the option, which included a $6 million roster bonus, on the soon-to-be 32-year-old Peterson, and both sides seemed to know it. When the Vikings restructured the final three years of Peterson's contract in 2015, the 2017 option almost seemed to be there as a placeholder, a mechanism to get both sides back to the negotiating table a couple of years after the initial restructuring.

          So in that sense, Tuesday's news shouldn't be seen as any kind of door closing on Peterson's time in Minnesota. What it does, however, is increase the likelihood the running back will explore what's outside that door before stepping back through it for another year with the Vikings.

          There's still another week for Minnesota, which is the only team that can negotiate with Peterson's representatives, but at this point, Peterson is like any other soon-to-be-unrestricted free agent. There's no reason for him not to try to get the best deal he can, whether it's from the Vikings or another team.

          He said he wants to stay in Minnesota, but he's also mentioned keeping an eye on other teams, like the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans. There won't be anything tethering him to the Vikings in nine days, and if one is to read between the lines of general manager Rick Spielman's comments last week, the Vikings could let Peterson explore the open market before he comes back to discuss a new deal with the team.

          Absent an offer from the Vikings that Peterson's camp perceives to be better than anything they'll get from another team, Minnesota's all-time leading rusher is likely headed toward free agency for the first time in his career. It was always going to take a restructured deal to prevent that from happening, but now the clock is officially ticking.