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So why would the NFL blatantly renege on an agreement to reinstate running back Adrian Peterson once his legal case is resolved? The league may simply be buying time for Peterson’s team.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, an entity that is partially owned by the Vikings, reports that the Vikings currently are engaged in an “internal battle” over whether Peterson should return. Rapoport explained that there is disagreement among “some executives” with the team.

He didn’t name names, so it’s impossible to know who is on which side of this specific schism. (However, it’s likely that any executives opposed to bringing Peterson back don’t need more wins than losses to remain employed.)

It is possible to know what the team’s options will be, if/when Peterson is reinstated: Play him or cut him. Some with the Vikings apparently don’t want to do either, at least for now.