The NFL today announced that Vikings RB Adrian Peterson has been suspended without pay for the remainder of the '14 season and will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15. Under the CBA, Peterson may appeal the decision by giving notice within three business days. In that case, a hearing would be scheduled promptly, and Peterson would remain on the commissioner's exempt list and continue to be paid pending a decision. Peterson is suspended under the league's Personal Conduct Policy. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a letter to Peterson wrote, "The timing of your potential reinstatement will be based on the results of the counseling and treatment program set forth in this decision" (NFL). The NFLPA in a statement said, "Since Adrian’s legal matter was adjudicated, the NFL has ignored their obligations and attempted to impose a new and arbitrary disciplinary proceeding. ... The NFLPA will appeal this suspension and will demand that a neutral arbitrator oversee the appeal" (NFLPA). ESPN's Ed Werder said anybody who "thinks that this suspension has created a final resolution to this matter couldn't be more mistaken." Werder cited a source as saying it is "very possible" that Peterson could return to the field for the Vikings as soon as this weekend. Werder: "All of that, of course, depends on a second issue, a second appeal … about whether Adrian Peterson had to be taken off the commissioner's exempt list immediately upon adjudication of his court case. The league says no. The union says that was part of the agreement. If (the arbitrator) rules in favor of Peterson as most suspect, then it will be interesting to see if this suspension supersedes that action” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 11/18).
THE RIGHT DECISION? In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan writes Goodell "made the right decision, and probably for the wrong reasons." When the photographs of the "damage Peterson did to his four-year-old son were made public, with the caveat that the wounds had begun healing before the photos were taken, it was clear that Peterson had behaved inhumanly." The "only person with the power and willingness to discipline Peterson would be Goodell." Souhan: "And he did." Goodell is "severely punishing Peterson because he so lightly punished" free agent RB Ray Rice. There will be "howls of protest from Vikings fans, and fantasy football owners, but Goodell got this right." Peterson "earned this level of punishment" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 11/18). Also in Minneapolis, Michael Rand writes there is "no need to feel sorry" for Peterson, as he "put himself in this mess." However, it has become "abundantly clear that this has become less and less about Peterson’s situation itself and more and more about the power struggle between the league and players’ association." The NFL is "probably over-correcting after facing a public backlash for being too soft in punishment of players over the years." The NFLPA is "saying they’re not playing by the rules; the NFL is saying it can make whatever rules it wants" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 11/18).
MAKING A STATEMENT: ESPN's Adam Schefter said of how the NFL is handling Peterson’s punishment, “The NFL is making a statement that this is a new league that is operating right now and the league is going to have very little tolerance for incidents in which it feels wrongdoing was done.” Schefter said of the NFL’s decision, “I think the league went to lengths and took a very strong stance and again, I think it conflicts with some of the stances the league has taken on other issues before but let it be known that the league is saying, ‘We are not going soft on anything’” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 11/18). ESPN’s Bill Polian said in terms of the letter Goodell sent to Peterson, the NFLPA and Peterson are “going to be pretty interested in the contents of that letter because at first blush, there’s a lot of sociological stuff in there that transcends football and you're going to want to know exactly what is required of Adrian so when he comes back that they're able to help him. The April 15th date is interesting, want to know what that entails, why that is there." He said there are a “lot of unanswered questions here,” but the league “owes the Vikings an extended explanation of what they plan here" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 11/18).
