Skins Exercise 2020 Club Option on RB Adrian Peterson

[Boone]

For Immediate Release
February 19, 2020

REDSKINS EXERCISE 2020 CLUB OPTION ON RB ADRIAN PETERSON​

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have exercised the 2020 club option on RB Adrian Peterson’s contract.
“Adrian Peterson is the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league,” said Head Coach Ron Rivera. “Adrian’s leadership and passion towards the game of football will set an example of what is expected of the players in this program moving forward.”
Peterson was a team captain and led Washington in attempts (211), rushing yards (898) and rushing touchdowns (5) last season. He was named the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award winner at NFL Honors and was also honored by the local media with the Good Guy award, which is given to a Redskins player who treated the media with respect, professionalism and went above and beyond to help them do their job.
Peterson will enter 2020 having started in 154 of the 164 games he has appeared in. He currently ranks No. 8 in rushing attempts (3,036), No. 5 in rushing yards (14,216), No. 4 in rushing touchdowns (111) and No. 6 in yards per game (86.7) in NFL history. Peterson needs 1,054 rushing yards to pass Barry Sanders for No. 4 all-time and he needs 13 rushing touchdowns to pass Marcus Allen for No. 3 all-time in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, respectively.

Peterson has appeared in five postseason contests and has started in all of them. He has registered 116 attempts for 412 yards and five touchdowns along with hauling in six receptions for 54 yards in postseason action.

Peterson is a seven-time Pro Bowler, has been named First-Team All Pro four times and Second-Team All Pro three times and is a three-time rushing leader. He was named the NFL MVP in 2012 after finishing the season with 348 carries for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns and was nine yards away from setting the single-season NFL rushing record. He is the last running back to capture the MVP award and is only the fourth to do so in the last 20 years.

-REDSKINS-​

 

[Boone]

This had to be a no-brainer. I mean, since Gruden is no longer making decisions

 

[MikefromOH]

The guy was benched the first game and STILL almost got 1000 yards. He is going to pass a lot of people next year and it will be nice to see him do it in the B&G

 

[Bulldog]

He’s still the best RB in uniform here until proven otherwise.

Given Guice and Bryce Love’s recent injury history, he’s our only given at the position.

Gruden lost respect from the entire team being petty about the roster deactivation last season.

This was not going to be a good team last year but that move for the opener set a chill at the wrong time.

 

[Henry]

I still can't believe Gruden didn't even dress him Week One. Running for 1000 yards for Gruden is apparently The Kiss of Death. Since Gruden's days in Cincinnati, no RB has had more than one 1000 yard season for Gruden. Ever. 1000 yards means a reduced role and/or removal from the team.

 

[Boone]

'Why would we not play AP, Coach?’
'For spite’

 

[Elephant]

I like this, but we still need to draft a RB in the late rounds.

We could take another flier on Matt Jones, he's averaging less than 2.8 yards a carry in the XFL!

 

[ntotoro]

He’s a football player!!!!

 

[Win4us]

His work ethic is top notch, this move was a gimme

 

[Hog Fever]

I have to agree with the mob here, good move.

I'm really curious to see what Bryce Love can bring to the table next season especially with Chris Thompson's future up in the air. Love would seem like the perfect 3rd down back. I haven't been able to find any confirmation that he'll be ready for OTAs. I hope so. He was a excellent college player.

Guice should be healthy so if we can catch a little luck that may be a position of strength for the team.

 

[Boone]

Guice will have to play a full season for me to believe he's healthy. What he says and what is factual when it comes to his health have been two different things so far. Not his fault, but he has to prove he can stand up to the punishment or we'll need to move on. And Love is an exciting prospect. And AP is living proof that players can come back from devastating injuries and have great careers. It would be really nice if one of the two youngsters panned out. If they both did, I'd be giddy.

 

[Bulldog]

Love had that second surgery after the ACL and perhaps that sets him back a bit.

Its not a comfortable feeling to have 3 runners under contract and only the 35 year old Peterson at this point can be counted on.

 

[SilentThreat]

This was the easiest decision they will have to make this off season... narrowly beating out the releasing of Norman and Richardson.

AP needs to carry the ball more than Guice this year imho. Not necessarily a ton more, but if we run the ball 25 times in a game, I want Peterson to carry it 12 - 15. Guice around 10, and Love / other to carry the balance with Guice / Love / other being more involved in pass catching... getting Guice up around 15 touches a game.... at least to start. If we want to shift that sliding scale a bit more toward Guice as the year goes on, i'm good with that.

 

[Elephant]

This was the easiest decision they will have to make this off season... narrowly beating out the releasing of Norman and Richardson.

AP needs to carry the ball more than Guice this year imho. Not necessarily a ton more, but if we run the ball 25 times in a game, I want Peterson to carry it 12 - 15. Guice around 10, and Love / other to carry the balance with Guice / Love / other being more involved in pass catching... getting Guice up around 15 touches a game.... at least to start. If we want to shift that sliding scale a bit more toward Guice as the year goes on, i'm good with that.

You're placing an awful loot of faith in Guic e. At this point I can't trust he stays healthy, and draft another RB...probably round 4.

 

[SilentThreat]

You're placing an awful loot of faith in Guic e. At this point I can't trust he stays healthy, and draft another RB...probably round 4.

I didn't say that's how the season was going to end. IF Guice get's 150 touches this season, i'll be ecstatic.

My point was that I don't have a ton of faith in Guice, and AP should be the one to carry the bulk of the load. I want Guice to get carries, because he can be a difference maker, but there should be no doubt about who the 'primary' RB is, and it should be AP.

I guess I should have said those splits were the 'max'

 

[Win4us]

I’m still holding out hope the new training staff can keep Guice on the field for 16 games. All of the players should see more availability on game day with the medical staff upgrade

 

[MikefromOH]

Guice reminds me of Grant Hill when he went to the NBA.

Great guy, great work ethic. You can tell he just has a love for the game. But, his body can't hold up to the pressure and beatings of a season.

I am not sure how much Gruden and the staff did him wrong; but I know he has been hurt two years in a row and shouldn't have been at his age.

 

[Elephant]

Guice reminds me of Grant Hill when he went to the NBA.

Great guy, great work ethic. You can tell he just has a love for the game. But, his body can't hold up to the pressure and beatings of a season.

I am not sure how much Gruden and the staff did him wrong; but I know he has been hurt two years in a row and shouldn't have been at his age.

Actually, it's been 3 years in a row. In his senior year at LSU he played much of the season with a lagging knee injury that he hurt early in the year.

 

[MikefromOH]

Actually, it's been 3 years in a row. In his senior year at LSU he played much of the season with a lagging knee injury that he hurt early in the year.

THIS IS A REDSKINS SITE, BRIAN!! THIS AINT LSU!! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD!!!

 

[Boone]

I am not sure how much Gruden and the staff did him wrong; but I know he has been hurt two years in a row and shouldn't have been at his age.

You may be right about the durability. But what could Gruden and the staff have done that would have anything to do with his injuries? Basically every time he’s gotten on the field he’s gotten hurt. He hasn’t had enough playing time for coaching decisions to even have an impact

Some players just can't stay healthy or maybe just bad luck involved. I think if he doesn’t show he can play the bulk of a season without getting hurt again we will have to just acknowledge he was a blown pick and move on.