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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Union Sues NFL Over Peterson Reinstatement; Recording With Troy Vincent Leaked

The NFLPA today "followed through on its pledge and sued the NFL" on behalf of Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, "seeking his immediate reinstatement" after an arbitrator upheld the suspension Friday, according to Paul Walsh of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The NFLPA in its filing in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis "petitions the court to vacate the Friday’s ruling against Peterson by Harold Henderson, former NFL executive vice president for labor relations and the arbitrator appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 12/15). As part of its suit, the union cites a conversation recorded by Peterson with NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent about his suspension. In the recording, obtained by ABC News, Vincent replies to Peterson asking whether he would only be suspended for two games by responding, "Yeah." ABC's Ryan Smith notes Peterson’s lawyers claim this Nov. 12 phone call shows Vincent “promising Peterson a two-game suspension instead of the indefinite ban handed down" by Goodell six days later. Peterson said in the recording, “It will be two additional games, not time served.” Vincent then interrupts and said, “No, no, no. ... It won’t. The one this weekend. So really it’s just next week and you … will be back.” In the conversation, Vincent said Peterson attending a meeting with the league was "key." But Smith said at Peterson’s appeal hearing that Vincent “denied making promises” and Henderson agreed, noting Vincent “wasn’t speaking for the NFL, but trying to help” Peterson through the process (“GMA,” ABC, 12/15).  Peterson said that he "eventually chose not to attend the meeting ... when the league would not provide details on the nature and scope of it."  Peterson said that he "wasn't sure if he could trust the NFL's process for reinstatement," adding that he has been "so disappointed by the NFL's disciplinary process that he's thought about retirement." He said that if a lawsuit would eventually put his chance for reinstatement at risk, he would "consider walking away from the game altogether." Peterson noted that he is "interested in competing in the 200- and 400-meter dashes in the Olympics"(ESPN.com, 12/13).

THE UNION'S TAKE
: NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith said, “This is a part of something that's bigger than just Adrian Peterson, Troy Vincent, Ray Rice. This is another instance in which the National Football League will say anything on one day and do anything on another day to try to support a position that at this point is completely devoid of any rationality." He added, "Sometimes you have to show hypocrisy so that people can understand just how far some people will go to win" (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 12/15).

LAY OF THE LAND: In Minneapolis, Matt Vensel noted Henderson on Friday ruled that Peterson "must remain away from the league and all team activities until at least April 15." Peterson will be "eligible to return then if he fulfills requirements set by Goodell last month." Henderson said that the "facts in Peterson's appeal were uncontested." He also noted that Peterson's "public comments regarding his charges 'do not reflect remorse or appreciation for the seriousness of his actions or their impact on his family, community, fans and the NFL'" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/13). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted Peterson's suspension "contains a thin silver lining" in that it "won’t carry over" into '15. The suspension is "through the end of the 2014 regular season, along with the forfeiture of six game checks." But he "won't miss six games without pay" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 12/13).

WIN FOR THE LEAGUE: In N.Y., Ken Belson wrote Henderson's ruling was "a victory" for the NFL and Goodell, as it came two weeks after an independent arbitrator "reinstated Ray Rice." Peterson’s outcome was "less surprising because his appeal was heard by Henderson, a former NFL vice president and current special adviser to the league who was chosen by Goodell." Henderson’s role is "likely to reignite a debate over the league’s resistance to using neutral, third-party arbitrators such as the former federal judge Barbara Jones, who heard Rice’s appeal" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13). USA TODAY's Christine Brennan wrote the ruling came "just two days" after Goodell announced the "toughest personal conduct policy in sports." After "months of mistakes and apologies, Goodell and the NFL ended up having a very good week." Goodell's NFL is "now doing more to combat domestic violence than any other sports league on the planet, as best as we can tell." Brennan: "Like it or not, the NFL is leading the way on the vital issue of trying to eradicate domestic violence from our culture, and having Peterson's suspension upheld is exactly the message the league wants to keep sending" (USATODAY.com, 12/12).

MISSED CALL? In Minneapolis, Patrick Reusse wrote under the header, "NFL Got It Wrong, Peterson Should Be Allowed Back." Goodell and his "stooge Harold Henderson ... insist that Peterson has not shown proper remorse." Reusse: "I don’t buy it. I found contrition on the courthouse steps after his no-contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of abuse. More important, the mother of the 4-year-old seems to have found contrition with the father of her child." Reusse: "I'll go with Mom over Goodell and Henderson" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/13).

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