The NFL announced on Tuesday that Adrian Peterson has been suspended without pay for at least the remainder of the 2014 season. He will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15, 2015.
Peterson has three days to appeal the decision, and he reportedly plans to do so.
In a letter to Peterson, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that the Minnesota Vikings running back has “shown no meaningful remorse” for his actions and must commit himself to counseling before being considered for reinstatement. Here’s the juicy portion of Goodell’s letter.
“First, the injury was inflicted on a child who was only four years old. The difference in size and strength between you and the child is significant, and your actions clearly caused physical injury to the child. While an adult may have a number of options when confronted with abuse – to flee, to fight back, or to seek help from law enforcement – none of those options is realistically available to a four-year old child. Further, the injury inflicted on your son includes the emotional and psychological trauma to a young child who suffers criminal physical abuse at the hands of his father.
“Second, the repetitive use of a switch in this instance is the functional equivalent of a weapon, particularly in the hands of someone with the strength of an accomplished professional athlete.
“Third, you have shown no meaningful remorse for your conduct. 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, or even worse, that you may feel free to engage in similar conduct in the future.”
Goodell said that Peterson’s plea agreement gives him no leverage with the league since it arose from abusive acts toward his son.
The NFL Players Association later released a statement accusing Goodell and the league of being inconsistent and irresponsible throughout the disciplinary process.
“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 statement read. “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.”
While AP still has some hope of playing if his appeal results in Goodell’s decision being overturned, it appears highly unlikely that we will see him again this season.
