Vikings RB Adrian Peterson's appeal of his indefinite suspension "will be heard" tomorrow before former NFL Exec VP/Labor Relations Harold Henderson, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Sources said that Henderson "denied" the NFLPA's "request to recuse himself saying he will be impartial despite the fact his compensation as a former league employee is in the millions." Sources added that the union has asked that NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent "be compelled to testify as a central witness in the Peterson case." Mortensen also cited sources as saying that NFLPA outside counsel Jeff Kessler "specifically stated in a letter to the NFL that Vincent must be cross-examined because he allegedly told Peterson he would not be subject to the league’s new personal conduct policy, that he specifically told Peterson he would not be suspended for more than two games and that the time spent on the commissioner’s exempt list would be considered time served." Mortensen: "The big question, does the union have documentation regarding the Vincent allegations?" (“Sunday NFL Countdown,” ESPN, 11/30). Meanwhile, USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero cites a source as saying that Peterson recorded his conversations with Vincent "because he became suspicious of Vincent's motives for pushing Peterson to attend a Nov. 14 hearing involving outside experts." Vincent is quoted as telling Peterson that if he attended the Nov. 14 hearing, it is "possible he would receive credit for time served on the exempt list and be suspended as little as two additional games, with the suspension to be confirmed in a letter the night of the hearing." Vincent said that he "had conversations with Peterson about potential discipline but indicated he made no promises about time served" (USA TODAY, 12/1).
