In an expected move, the Minnesota Vikings have declined Adrian Peterson’s 2017 contract option. The team announced the move in a statement.

 

Peterson was due to make $18 million in 2017, which included a $6M roster bonus if he was on the Vikings’ roster on the third day of the new league year. Peterson will officially become a free agent on March 9, the first day of the new league year.  

 

GM Rick Spielman didn’t rule out Peterson returning to the Vikings in 2017 at a reduced price.

 

Peterson has played his entire NFL career in Minnesota after the Vikings selected him seventh overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. In May last year, Peterson made it clear that he felt the Vikings were a legit Super Bowl contender .

 

The Chiefs announced Tuesday that they have released Jamaal Charles in a move first reported by ESPN.com. Charles had been with the team since 2008, when Kansas City made him a third-round pick in the NFL Draft. 

 

Although Charles has a long history in Kansas City, the decision to release him wasn’t a complete surprise. The 30-year-old running back has only played in a total of eight games over the past two seasons due to a lingering knee injury.

 

Charles tore his ACL in 2015 after playing in only five games and then dealt with swelling in that same knee throughout the 2016 season. The veteran running back was placed on injured reserve in both years. 

 

During his absence over the past two seasons, both Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West emerged as capable replacements. In 2016, Ware led the Chiefs with 921 yards rushing. As for Charles, he only saw in action in three games last season, and only totaled 40 yards on the ground. 

 

By cutting Charles, the Chiefs will save roughly $6 million in cap space.