Adrian Peterson Suspended: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been suspended for the remainder of the 2014 NFL season, but the superstar running back has appealed the punishment.

Continue for updates.

Thursday, Nov. 20

Peterson Appeals Suspension

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports reports that Peterson and the NFLPA have filed their grievance against the league for the running back's punishment:

ESPN's Ed Werder detailed some of what the appeal would focus on: 

Pro Football Talk later provided more information on Peterson's appeal:

ESPN's Chris Mortensen provided the full letter of appeal. 

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Peterson Suspended for Rest of Season

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been suspended for at least the remainder of the 2014 season under the league's personal conduct policy as a result of the child abuse case that previously landed him on the exempt list.

NFL Communications announced the decision Tuesday morning:

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Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was notified today that he has been suspended without pay for at least the remainder of the 2014 NFL season, and will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15, for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy in an incident of abusive discipline that he inflicted on his four-year-old son last May. Peterson pled no contest on November 4 in state court in Montgomery County, Texas to reckless assault of the child.

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USA Today's Tom Pelissero provides details of the punishment:

Andrew Brandt of ESPN has more on Peterson's status:

Pro Football Talk explains why Peterson can remain on the Commissioner-Exempt list:

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk elaborates on how the appeal process would play out for Peterson:

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That means there’s no chance of Peterson being allowed to play pending the appeal of his suspension. Given that Peterson’s appeal will be heard by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell — the very man who just suspended him — it is extraordinarily unlikely that Peterson will play this year.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also sent a letter to Peterson, which NFL Communications provided:

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The timing of your potential reinstatement will be based on the results of the counseling and treatment program set forth in this decision. Under this two-step approach, the precise length of the suspension will depend on your actions. 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. 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.

[...]

The well-being of your children is of paramount concern. In the absence of speaking to you to understand your current disposition toward child discipline, we cannot be sure that this conduct will not be repeated. Moreover, we are unaware of any effort on your part to acknowledge the seriousness of your conduct and your responsibility to demonstrate a genuine commitment to change.

In order to assess your progress going forward, I will establish periodic reviews, the first of which will be on or about April 15, 2015. At that time, I will meet with you and your representatives and the NFLPA to review the extent to which you have complied with your program of counseling and therapy and both made and lived up to an affirmative commitment to change such that this conduct will not occur again. A failure to cooperate and follow your plan will result in a lengthier suspension without pay.

[...]

It is imperative that you to [sic] avoid any incident of this kind in the future. Any further violation of the Personal Conduct Policy will result in additional discipline and may subject you to banishment from the NFL.

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The NFLPA also released a statement reacting to Peterson's suspension:

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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. 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.

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Following the suspension announcement, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Peterson "is appealing the suspension right away, per league source." NFL Network's Albert Breer provided clarity on such an appeal and the financial impact on Peterson:

Ed Werder of ESPN also reported on the chances that Peterson plays on Sunday:

The Vikings later acknowledged the NFL's decision, "The NFL has informed the Vikings of today’s decision regarding Adrian Peterson. We respect the league’s decision and will have no further comment at this time."

According to Bart Hubboch of the New York Post, privately the Vikings are standing behind their running back: 

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EXCLUSIVE: Source with knowledge of Vikings' thinking tells me team — despite neutral statement -- "not happy" with Goodell's AP decision.

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) November 19, 2014"

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EXCLUSIVE: Source says the Vikings are standing by Adrian Peterson and have no plans to cut or trade him during his NFL suspension.

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) November 19, 2014"

Peterson played in the team's season opener, rushing for 75 yards on 21 carries in a victory over the St. Louis Rams. A few days later, however, TMZ Sports revealed he had been indicted for child abuse in Texas after using a "switch" to discipline his son.

The running back then released a statement about the situation:

The Vikings deactivated him for that week's game against the New England Patriots. He was reinstated on the day following the Week 2 loss, but his return was met by continued sharp criticism from the public and sponsors.

As a result, Minnesota reversed course just a few days later. The team placed Peterson on the exempt/commissioner's permission list, which meant he would be away from the organization but could still get paid.

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today provided a statement from team owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf about that decision, which in part focused on their role in the community:

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We are always focused on trying to make the right decision as an organization. We embrace our role—and the responsibilities that go with it—as a leader in the community, as a business partner and as an organization that can build bridges with our fans and positively impact this great region. We appreciate and value the input we have received from our fans, our partners and the community.

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Ed Werder of ESPN reported Peterson had an opportunity to challenge the change of status at the time but opted to accept and focus on the legal situation:

He returned to the spotlight while sitting out because of a situation involving a drug test. Ben Goessling of ESPN reported records from Montgomery County Court showed Peterson allegedly told a lab technician he "smoked a little weed" at some point before the urinalysis exam.

It further complicated an already troublesome situation for the running back. And, as Goessling pointed out, made his potential path to an NFL return even murkier.

Then, on Nov. 4, he agreed to a plea deal in the child abuse case. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported the agreement included being placed on probation, a fine and 80 hours of community service, with an official ruling on the case deferred for two years.

The move left it up to the NFL to determine Peterson's availability. But the league wasn't prepared to provide instant clarity, as noted by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network:

Only after the NFLPA filed an expedited grievance was a hearing set for Nov. 14. Peterson did not attend the hearing and released a statement through the NFLPA on Nov. 16 discussing the decision: 

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The report that I backed out of a meeting with the NFL is just not true. When Roger Goodell's office asked that I attend the 'hearing' on Friday, I consulted with my union and learned that this 'hearing' was something new and inconsistent with the CBA. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this past week, my union sent emails, letters, and had conversations with his office on my behalf asking about the nature of the hearing, how it was to occur, who would participate, and its purpose. We repeatedly asked them to respond quickly to my questions because I want to cooperate and get back on the field, but they didn't respond until late Wednesday evening, and even then they didn't answer important questions about their proposed 'hearing.'

After consulting with the union, I told the NFL that I will attend the standard meeting with the Commissioner prior to possible imposition of discipline, as has been the long-term practice under the CBA, but I wouldn’t participate in a newly created and non-collectively bargained pre-discipline 'hearing' that would include outside people I don't know and who would have roles in the process that the NFL wouldn't disclose. At this point, I've resolved my matter in the criminal court; I've worked to make amends for what I've done; I've missed most of the season, and I stand ready to be candid and forthcoming with Mr. Goodell about what happened. However, I will not allow the NFL to impose a new process of discipline on me, ignore the CBA, ignore the deal they agreed to with me, and behave without fairness or accountability. The process they are pushing is arbitrary, inconsistent, and contrary to what they agreed to do, and for those reasons, I never agreed to the hearing.

I'm sorry for all of this, but I can't excuse their refusal to be fair.

"

Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press provides comments from NFL great Eric Dickerson, who spoke about the punishment:

Now that the punishment has been handed down, it's unclear if/when the running back will return to the field.

The league is under a lot of pressure to handle these kinds of situations more quickly and with added decisiveness after going through a crisis at the start of the season. The NFL also holds the right to punish players based on off-field conduct.