Giants planning to ‘take a look’ at AP
INDIANAPOLIS — Ben McAdoo said Wednesday the Giants will take a look at Adrian Peterson — as they would any other free agent — to see if making a run at the future Hall of Fame running back makes sense.
“We’ll go take a look at him, we’ll evaluate him, we’ll get a grade on anyone who’s available and we’ll make those decisions in terms of what’s best for the Giants moving forward,’’ McAdoo said at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Vikings on Tuesday said they will not pick up the contract option on Peterson — an expected move, as he was going to be on the books for $18 million in 2017. Peterson turns 32 this month and played just three games in 2016 because of a knee injury. He rushed for 1,485 yards in 2015 and is No. 16 on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. Free agency in the NFL begins March 9.
Peterson might not be done with the Vikings, who are interested in bringing him back at a reduced salary, but it will not be a bargainbasement price. A Vikings source told The Post once Peterson hits the open market, it is unlikely any team will outbid the Vikings for Peterson, who would like to finish out his career in Minnesota. The Raiders could also be an option.
“The one thing we can’t predict is what the market is going to be,’’ Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said Wednesday.
The Giants need another running back after releasing Rashad Jennings, their leading rusher the past two seasons, who is headed to “Dancing With The Stars.’’ They have Paul Perkins coming off a solid rookie year and veteran Shane Vereen coming off an injury-filled season.
“If it fits, if it’s clean,’’ McAdoo said about bringing in another running back. “Paul’s a guy we have confidence in, he missed all offseason last year because of the rules that are in place with rookies, came into camp and really had to catch up in a hurry. Had some success on special teams early and ended up being a nice ball-carrier for us and grew in protection as well. Again, he needs to come back, he needs to get better, he can get better, I know he’s working to get better right now.’’
Perkins, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA, ran for 456 yards as a rookie, averaging 4.1 yards per rushing attempt. His best game was the regular-season finale, when he ran for 102 yards against the Redskins.
“Paul’s a lot like the rest of the rookies,’’ McAdoo said. “It’s important when these rookies, they get back to New York they understand they don’t have everything figured out, that we need to keep our thumb on those guys and they need to grow and they need to get better. We need to make gains, our rookie class needs to make gains, we had a nice class of guys there and Paul’s one of those players. But he needs to get better, like the rest of ’em.’’