Source: Adrian Peterson still presses for trade from Vikings with decision to skip OTAs

When Adrian Peterson skips this week's organized team activities for the Minnesota Vikings, he will  attempt to send an unmistakable message to the franchise: He wants to be traded.

That's what a source within the star running back's inner circle told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. Despite months of overtures by the Vikings, Peterson has not wavered privately about his wish to continue his career with another franchise. Indeed, the source said Peterson believes he already made ownership and the Vikings' front office aware that he wanted a trade in face-to-face meetings this offseason.

Adrian Peterson appears willing to forfeit a $250,000 bonus in order to make a point (AP)
Adrian Peterson appears willing to forfeit a $250,000 bonus in order to make a point (AP)

The St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press first reported that Peterson won't be at the start of team workouts, which begin Tuesday.

But the source, who has been a longtime Peterson confidant, told Yahoo Sports that the running back intends to sit out all of the team's offseason workouts, an act that would cause him to forfeit a $250,000 workout bonus. The longtime confidant said Peterson has not yet made a decision about sitting out of the team's mandatory minicamp in June or training camp in late July.

Interestingly, a league source said as recently as last week that Peterson's agent, Ben Dogra, had been seeking a reworked contract from the Vikings that would secure more guaranteed money for his client. As it stands, Peterson does not have remaining guaranteed money on his deal. But Peterson's confidant told Yahoo Sports that this has evolved into a far more personal issue between the player and the team and is not a matter of finances. The source said that for Peterson it has "never been about the money," and that the running back is adamant about playing elsewhere.

Dogra declined to comment.

Over the course of the offseason, multiple league sources told Yahoo Sports that several issues were fueling Peterson's desire to leave the Vikings. Among them:

• Peterson's belief that both he and his family need a fresh start in a new city, allowing him to bring personal closure to a disastrous 2014.
• His feeling that the franchise declined to strongly back him publicly during the initial stages of his child abuse charge prior to the 2014 season.
• Trust issues with Vikings executive Kevin Warren, who Peterson and his father Nelson believe undercut the player privately in favor of saving face with business partners and sponsors.
• Coverage from local media during his legal issues, including what he believed was unfair criticism of his "All Day Foundation."

While Peterson would lose his $250,000 workout bonus by skipping offseason workouts, he cannot be officially fined until he skips mandatory activities. The Vikings' mandatory minicamp is slated to run from June 16-18.