Adrian Peterson Says He Is Considering Retirement & Joining The Olympics

Adrian Peterson’s appeal to have his suspension lifted was denied this week but that’s okay, because according to Peterson, he wanted to retire anyway. 

In a statement Peterson says, “I’ve considered retiring from the NFL. I still made $8 million dollars this year. I’ve thought about getting back into the real estate (business in Texas) I’m already in. That’s something I’ve been interested in, something I’m involved in. I’ve thought about getting back into that. I’ve thought about going after the Olympics — you only live once. It might be time for me to pursue that, as well. I love playing football, don’t get me wrong, but this situation is deeper than that. For me, it’s like, ‘Why should I continue to be a part of an organization or a business that handles players the way they do? Making money off the field anyway, why not continue to pursue that (Olympic) dream and pursue other dreams and hang up the cleats?'”

Peterson says he’s always been interested in the 200 and 400 meter dashes and it’s something he’s been thinking about for some time. “I’ve seriously thought about this real hard. I continue to pray about it, but it’s been something that has been heavy, heavy on my heart.” 

Adrian Peterson is filing a lawsuit against the NFL as early as Monday and Peterson is bracing himself for it in the event that this ruins his chances of ever being reinstated.  “Of course I’d miss it. It’s my first love. But the reason I would be walking away from it would be (if the next steps in the process) kind of solidify that hurt from these incidents. I would know that, ‘Hey, you’re walking away not because you’ve given up. You’re walking away because they’re handling you all the way wrong in this situation. They’re painting you out to be a guy that you’re not.”

Peterson gets his love for track from his mother, Bonita Jackson, who was also a track star back in her day. 

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