Adrian Peterson awaits fate after meeting Roger Goodell
Adrian Peterson awaits fate after meeting Roger Goodell, Adrian Peterson finally got his chance to speak directly to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday afternoon about what he has learned from his legal ordeal.
Now, the Minnesota Vikings' star running back waits to see if Goodell will reinstate him from the commissioner's exempt list when the league deems him eligible April 15.
Peterson, 30, was in New York with his representatives for Tuesday's meeting with Goodell and league executives Jeff Pash and Adolpho Birch — a summit Goodell said last month would need to occur before the 2012 NFL MVP would be considered for reinstatement.
At the time, Goodell said the league planned "to continue the evaluation" before making any decision. But an additional suspension is a long shot, especially given a federal judge's decision in February to vacate the arbitration award that upheld Peterson's original ban.
The NFL appealed U.S. District Court Judge David S. Doty's decision and moved Peterson back to the exempt list. No date has been set for the appeal to be heard, and appeals officer Harold Henderson has not moved to issue a new arbitration award based on Doty's ruling.
One issue that still must be addressed is Peterson's participation, or lack thereof, in treatment mandated by the league as part of the suspension — a stipulation the union claims is in violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
On Tuesday, the NFLPA planned to push back at the requirement that Peterson meet with a league-appointed expert and follow the program of counseling, therapy and community service she recommended, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Even setting aside the CBA argument, the union doesn't believe the requirement should apply to Peterson since he's not currently suspended, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The NFLPA filed a grievance in December over the league's updated personal conduct policy, but no date has been set for an arbitration hearing in that matter either, the person said.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league had no comment on Tuesday's meeting — the league's first since the mess began with Peterson, who declined to participate in a hearing before his suspension was announced because of the planned participation of outside parties.
Indicted in September for injuring his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch, Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge Nov. 4. Two weeks later, Goodell suspended Peterson without pay for at least the rest of the 2014-15 season, with reinstatement no sooner than April 15.
"The timing of your potential reinstatement will be based on the results of the counseling and treatment program set forth in this decision," Goodell wrote in the suspension letter. "Under this two-step approach, the precise length of the suspension will depend on your actions."
Peterson already is participating in counseling as part of his plea deal, which included 80 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine. He also lost a little more than $2 million after Henderson upheld his suspension, which ended up covering the last three games of the season.
Last month, Goodell reiterated April 15 remained the relevant date for Peterson's potential reinstatement, even though Doty vacated Henderson's arbitration award.
Peterson appeared in just one game last season before the indictment. He's under contract through 2017 and the Vikings want him back. But Peterson has said he has concerns about him and his family returning to Minnesota, and his agent, Ben Dogra, has said they want out.
Now, the Minnesota Vikings' star running back waits to see if Goodell will reinstate him from the commissioner's exempt list when the league deems him eligible April 15.
Peterson, 30, was in New York with his representatives for Tuesday's meeting with Goodell and league executives Jeff Pash and Adolpho Birch — a summit Goodell said last month would need to occur before the 2012 NFL MVP would be considered for reinstatement.
At the time, Goodell said the league planned "to continue the evaluation" before making any decision. But an additional suspension is a long shot, especially given a federal judge's decision in February to vacate the arbitration award that upheld Peterson's original ban.
The NFL appealed U.S. District Court Judge David S. Doty's decision and moved Peterson back to the exempt list. No date has been set for the appeal to be heard, and appeals officer Harold Henderson has not moved to issue a new arbitration award based on Doty's ruling.
One issue that still must be addressed is Peterson's participation, or lack thereof, in treatment mandated by the league as part of the suspension — a stipulation the union claims is in violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
On Tuesday, the NFLPA planned to push back at the requirement that Peterson meet with a league-appointed expert and follow the program of counseling, therapy and community service she recommended, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Even setting aside the CBA argument, the union doesn't believe the requirement should apply to Peterson since he's not currently suspended, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The NFLPA filed a grievance in December over the league's updated personal conduct policy, but no date has been set for an arbitration hearing in that matter either, the person said.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league had no comment on Tuesday's meeting — the league's first since the mess began with Peterson, who declined to participate in a hearing before his suspension was announced because of the planned participation of outside parties.
Indicted in September for injuring his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch, Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge Nov. 4. Two weeks later, Goodell suspended Peterson without pay for at least the rest of the 2014-15 season, with reinstatement no sooner than April 15.
"The timing of your potential reinstatement will be based on the results of the counseling and treatment program set forth in this decision," Goodell wrote in the suspension letter. "Under this two-step approach, the precise length of the suspension will depend on your actions."
Peterson already is participating in counseling as part of his plea deal, which included 80 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine. He also lost a little more than $2 million after Henderson upheld his suspension, which ended up covering the last three games of the season.
Last month, Goodell reiterated April 15 remained the relevant date for Peterson's potential reinstatement, even though Doty vacated Henderson's arbitration award.
Peterson appeared in just one game last season before the indictment. He's under contract through 2017 and the Vikings want him back. But Peterson has said he has concerns about him and his family returning to Minnesota, and his agent, Ben Dogra, has said they want out.
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