The Minnesota Vikings have come right out and announced that they do not intend to part ways with their superstar running back. The already said that they would not release him, and now their comments would seem to indicate that a trade will not happen, either. Combine that news with the seemingly dried-up pool of trade partners, and all signs point to Adrian Peterson playing football in a Minnesota uniform this fall.

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But appearances can be deceiving. After all, Minnesota would hardly be the first team to intentionally mislead people with their public comments (in layman's terms, this is known as "lying"). And although the main rumored trade partner for the Vikings - the Dallas Cowboys - would seem unable to swallow the addition of Peterson's salary, Jerry Jones has proved unable to resist temptations before.

Many around the league refuse to talk about Peterson because they fear that comments will earn a tampering charge, according to the Dallas Morning News. "Are you trying to get me fired?'' Arizona's Bruce Arians responded when asked during the NFL annual meetings if the Cardinals would pursue Peterson. "That's tampering, dude. I can't talk about another player. I ain't saying jack about Adrian Peterson. I'd get fined for that."

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Those hardly sound like the comments of a team that isn't interested in a player.

Jerry Jones is also undeniably interested, and he has said as much before. He also has a team coming off of a 12-win season and a mid-thirties quarterback that will likely not play at a high level for much longer. In other words, Jones knows that Dallas's window could close sooner rather than later.

The Cowboys let DeMarco Murray walk because they didn't want to pay him what the market would bear, so why would they trade for Peterson, who makes more than any other running back?

They might do it because Peterson is one of the best to ever play the position. He is the only back in the league that would definitely represent an upgrade over Murray. He is durable and dynamic.

He would also force the Cowboys to restructure contracts, which would clog the team's cap in coming years, which they have said that they want to avoid. Still, Jerry Jones has taken wild chances before, and do not be surprised if he pulls the trigger on a Peterson trade as the draft draws closer.