For the first time in public, a person from Adrian Peterson’s camp has declared that the controversial running back wants to be away from the Minnesota Vikings. Ben Dogra, the agent for Peterson is stating that it is in the “best interest” of his client to play with another team in the National Football League, or NFL and not with the Vikings.

"I don't think it's in Adrian's best interest to play in Minnesota,” Dogra said in an ESPN article by Kevin Seifert on Monday. “Why would it be?”

The development is not surprising after Dogra reportedly declined a meeting with Vikings team officials particularly general manager Rick Spielman just days ago. Also early in March, the Vikings announced that the they have no plans of releasing Peterson which means that the only way the star RB will leave the team is if they trade away Peterson to another NFL team.

In the same article, Mark Wilf, the president of the Vikings reiterated the team’s stand in retaining Peterson.

“The bottom line is Adrian is an important part of the Minnesota Vikings. He's represented us on and off the field,” Wilf said. “We’re getting ready for the 2015 season and we fully expect him to join his teammates and be a part of what we feel is going to be a great season ahead."

Peterson is under contract with the team until the end of the 2015 NFL season. He is accused of child abuse charges and has been suspended by the league on Nov. 18. 2014 but has since been reinstated. Despite the off the field issues, Peterson is considered one of the best running backs in the league. He made the NFL Pro Bowl six times in his career thus far making the elite squad in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Earlier in the offseason, Peterson met with the Minnesota front office including Spielman plus head coach Mike Zimmer but the running back did not commit on a return to the team owing to the strained relationship between the two sides. NFL teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers and the Arizona Cardinals are reportedly interested in acquiring Peterson and can get him via a trade if Minnesota decides to deal him away.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author.

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