Adrian Peterson has generated very little interest from teams this offseason, but the Washington Redskins are still willing to give him a look. If you ask veteran offensive lineman Trent Williams, his team is making a smart decision.
Williams, a former first-round pick who has been with the Redskins since 2010, played with Peterson at Oklahoma and co-owns a gym with him in Houston. While his opinion may be a bit biased, he insists A.P. has plenty to offer at age 33.
“He hasn’t slowed down a step,” Williams said Sunday, via Matthew Paras of the Washington Times.
Peterson began last season with the New Orleans Saints but was quickly traded to the Arizona Cardinals after he was unable to carve out a role in Sean Payton’s offense. He looked plenty explosive early on with Arizona, but he eventually slowed down and a neck injury ended his season.
The Redskins are suddenly in the market for running back help after rookie Derrius Guice went down with a torn ACL, and Williams insists his old friend is being underestimated by many teams.
“I don’t understand the stigma when people get 31, 32, 33 — they somehow just slow down?” Williams said. “You don’t. That’s a gifted athlete, you know? He has a gift.”
The Redskins were not on Peterson’s list of preferred teams he had in May, but he doesn’t have the luxury of ruling out destinations if he wants to play football in 2018. Perhaps his history with Williams will help in Washington.
