Adrian Peterson has been suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2014 season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
The NFL announced the league’s ruling regarding Peterson on Tuesday. Peterson will not be considered for reinstatement in the NFL until April 15, 2015. The star Minnesota Vikings running back was made aware of the ruling via a letter from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, reported Sports Illustrated.
“We are prepared to put in place a program that can help you to succeed, but no program can succeed without your genuine and continuing engagement,” Goodell wrote in the letter. “You must commit yourself to your counseling and rehabilitative effort, properly care for your children, and have no further violations of law or league policy.”
Peterson was indicted on reckless or negligent injury to child charges earlier this fall for disciplining his 4-year-old son with a switch, causing bodily harm. Peterson pled no contest to the lesser charge of misdemeanor reckless assault, avoiding jail time. Throughout the controversy, Peterson has maintained that he’s a good father who mistakenly went overboard in attempting to teach his child a lesson.
“You have shown no meaningful remorse for your conduct,” Goodell’s letter said. “When indicted, you acknowledged what you did but said that you would not ‘eliminate whooping my kids’ and defended your conduct in numerous published text messages to the child’s mother. You also said that you felt ‘very confident with my actions because I know my intent.’”
“These comments raise the serious concern that you do not fully appreciate the seriousness of your conduct,” Goodell’s letter continued. “Or even worse, that you may feel free to engage in similar conduct in the future.”
After the NFL announced Peterson’s suspension, the NFL Players Association wasted little time in announcing its plan to appeal the ruling. The NFLPA also took the opportunity to criticize Goodell and the NFL for inconsistent punishments and a lack of transparency.
“The decision by the NFL to suspend Adrian Peterson is another example of the credibility gap that exists between the agreements they make and the actions they take,” the NFLPA 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 facts are that Adrian has asked for a meeting with Roger Goodell, the discipline imposed is inconsistent and an NFL executive told Adrian that his time on the commissioner’s list would be considered as time served. The NFLPA will appeal this suspension and will demand that a neutral arbitrator oversee the appeal. We call on the NFL Management Council to show our players and our sponsors leadership by committing to collective bargaining so a fair personal conduct policy can be implemented as quickly as possible.”
If the independent arbitrator appointed to Peterson’s case rules in favor of Peterson and the NFLPA’s appeal, the running back could potentially suit up for the Vikings game this coming Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, according to ESPN.
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