If you don't play for the Patriots, Steelers, Cowboys or Falcons, your offseason has already begun.
Tis the season for current high-NFL players to make appearances on ESPN's roster of morning shows. Thursday, it was future Hall-of-Famer Adrian Peterson's turn. Amid a week that included spots by Giants safety Landon Collins and Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon, "All Day" made the biggest splash from a news perspective, providing a short list of potential destinations if the Vikings cut him.
Peterson, the NFL's 16th all-time leading rusher, has spent his entire nine-year career in Minnesota but could be a salary cap casualty, moving forward. However, after playing in just three games due to torn meniscus, the soon-to-be 32-year-old recognizes he could part ways with the purple and gold.
"There are a couple of teams out there that I've thought about," Peterson said on "First Take." "New York is one of them that popped up, Tampa Bay. Houston would be a good spot ... I'll just stop there."
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If Peterson is remains on the roster through March 11, he'll receive a $6-million bonus. He's set to earn $11.75 million in base salary in 2017.
All three cities seem like viable landing spots.
The Giants won 11 games in the regular season before, falling to the Giants in a wild-card matchup in the playoffs, but there rushing attack ranked 29th among 32 NFL teams, failing to find much consistency in a backfield that primarily featured veteran Rashard Jennings and rookie Paul Perkins.
Bucs running back Doug Martin returned from injury in 2014, and finish as the No. 2 rusher in the league behind Peterson with 1,402 yards the next season. He struggled through myriad ailments this past season, seeing action in just half Tampa Bay's games. He must serve a four-game suspension after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. Backup Jacquizz Rodgers, a favorite of head coach Dirk Koetter, is a free agent and third-down specialist Charles Sims is recovery from injury.
The Texans' passing game languished, averaging just 190 yards a contest, despite the additions of big-money free-agent signee quarterback Brock Osweiler and first-round draft choice Will Fuller to go along with standout DeAndre Hopkins. Adding Peterson to a backfield that already includes 1,000-plus yard rusher Lamar Miller would make a viable 1-2 punch for the defending AFC South champions next season.