Adrian Peterson Meets with Mike Zimmer, Rick Spielman

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, accompanied by general manager Rick Spielman, met in Houston with star running back Adrian Peterson.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Josina Anderson reported that "only Adrian Peterson met with Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman at his home today. Peterson wanted to express his own thoughts and beliefs."

Peterson issued a brief statement to Anderson about the meeting, per Master Tesfatsion of StarTribune.com:

Ahead of the first in-person meeting between the Vikings and Peterson in months, Spielman spoke about the prolific ball-carrier at the University of Minnesota's pro day on Monday, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today:

"

We are able to have communication now with Adrian. We'll keep all those communications internal. I don't want to sit here and give you guys a blow by blow every day. I think it's been very clearly stated that we want Adrian Peterson back. There's no question about the talent. He's a unique talent, and he's under contract with us next year.

"

Pelissero also notes that Zimmer has advocated for Peterson in the past. To have the coach and GM both publicly endorse him has to make Peterson feel a bit more at ease about a prospective Minnesota return.

This is the first true chance for Peterson to communicate face to face with the Vikings since his recently lifted suspension.

The 29-year-old Peterson still has three seasons remaining on his six-year, $86.28 million contract, per Spotrac. It's a huge price to pay, and ESPN's Ed Werder provided an interesting stat:

Given Peterson's time away from football in 2014—he sat out 15 games—and the steep cost, it will be interesting to see what comes of the Vikings' impending sit-down.

Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported Tuesday that Peterson might restructure his lucrative contract to facilitate a trade.

Peterson should garner plenty of external interest in the event he doesn't stay with the only team he's played for in his eight-year NFL career. However, the child-abuse scandal he was involved in complicates his future on the gridiron regardless of where he ultimately lands.