Once upon a time I scoffed at a Profootballtalk.com report that Randy Moss would be traded to the Raiders and ended up regretting it when it turned out the then fledgling Web site was right.



Now PFT, by way of an NFL Network report citing no sources, has the Raiders “interested” in running back Adrian Peterson.

No scoffing this time, but plenty of skepticism.

It’s true the Raiders could accommodate Peterson under the salary cap and that offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave held the same position with the Vikings when the running back won the Most Valuable Player award in 2012.

Peterson ought to be fresh after sitting out a season and is probably still the NFL’s best running back.

That’s enough for plenty of NFL Network and ESPN panel discussions and speculation.

Of course, there were reports of the Raiders’ interest in defensive end Greg Hardy as well, which were eventually put to rest by both owner Mark Davis and general manager Reggie McKenzie. The Raiders simply weren’t ready to take on Hardy’s baggage, which included a domestic abuse conviction.

There will be no comments on Peterson, who has been cleared by the NFL following a missed season after a plea bargain on child abuse charges. For the most part, the Raiders have stayed away from baggage under McKenzie and one could argue that Peterson’s issue is as egregious as Hardy’s.

Peterson remains property of the Vikings, and commenting on another team’s player is bad form, not to mention tampering.

Agents have floated the Raiders as a popular destination for years, in part because they know that in almost every case the Raiders will remain tight-lipped. It was that way under Al Davis and it’s that way with McKenzie.

McKenzie is a man who loves his draft picks, and Peterson would come at a cost for a team which is committed to rebuilding through the draft. Another impediment is the Vikings will control Peterson’s destiny, and they’ve shown no inclination to move him.

The Raiders brought Trent Richardson and Roy Helu Jr. to go along with Latavus Murray and Marcel Reece. NFL teams have found productive running backs well down in the draft for years and the Raiders could still ending up getting another one. The guess here is that is the direction they’re heading.