Let's pump the brakes on Adrian Peterson to Colts

It sounds like a splendid scenario if you're an Indianapolis Colts fan.

Who wouldn't want Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson wearing a horseshoe on his helmet?

He's one of the best running backs of his generation, the Colts have an anemic running game and Peterson would potentially provide the kind of balance that could push the Colts past the Patriots in the AFC. Sounds perfect, right?

Well, don't go planning that Super Bowl party just yet.

While the suspended Peterson was reinstated by a federal judge this week in a lawsuit filed on his behalf by the NFL Players Association, he's a long, long way from suiting up for another team.

Peterson's dad, Nelson Peterson, told the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press on Thursday that he's heard rumors of a potential trade to the Cowboys, Colts or Cardinals. But there are some substantial roadblocks to Peterson changing teams.

And Peterson's contract is at the center of it all.

He's owed $12.75 million this season and his best (and likely only) shot at that kind of money in 2015 is to. ... remain in Minnesota. Despite the fact that Peterson is upset over the way the Vikings dealt with him while he was fighting child-abuse charges last year and statements suggesting he wants out, staying in Minnesota is unquestionably the best thing for him from a pure financial standpoint.

Few teams will want to trade for Peterson with his current contract intact. Peterson is owed a combined $44 million over the next three seasons, and that's not a commitment many teams are willing to make to an aging, if extremely talented, running back. There would likely have to be an agreement beforehand by Peterson to restructure his contract, possibly taking less money (remember, if a team trades for Peterson, they're going to pay him substantial money and have to fork over trade compensation. That's a lot to swallow).

A chance to win could be a compelling motivator for Peterson to be flexible. Peterson has been subjected to the Vikings' utter mediocrity for most of his career, but how much would be willing to give up for a chance to win?

The Colts being among the teams suggested as a trade partner with the Vikings is not surprising. General manager Ryan Grigson has already proven he'll take a chance on a running back, having sent a first-round pick to Cleveland for Trent Richardson in 2013. That didn't work out well, but the precedent is there.

However, there are major differences between that trade and a potential Peterson trade. The biggest: The Richardson trade made sense financially because the Browns had already paid a majority of his rookie contract and Richardson was going to make a very manageable annual salary while with the Colts. The financials in the potential Peterson trade couldn't be more different.

Meanwhile, the Vikings, at least publicly, are saying they want to keep Peterson.

And if Peterson wants to maximize his earnings, he'll probably have a change of heart and decide he wants the same thing.