Tension remains for Vikes, Peterson

MINNEAPOLIS – The relationship between the Minnesota Vikings and star running back Adrian Peterson remains tenuous.

Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra, said Friday that he declined an invitation from Vikings general manager Rick Spielman to meet during the NFL owners meetings next week.

Vikings officials have met with Peterson twice this month. Peterson has expressed uneasiness about returning to Minnesota to resume his career that was halted last year while the child abuse case he was involved in played out in court and then through the league’s conduct policy.

Peterson’s contract with the Vikings doesn’t expire until after the 2017 season. Spielman recently told Dogra the team does not plan to release Peterson, who turns 30 on Saturday. So either the Vikings work out a trade to another team or Peterson puts aside his feelings and plays for $13 million in 2015.