Eden Prairie, MN (SportsNetwork.com) – The Minnesota Vikings returned from
their bye to begin preparations for Sunday’s game against Chicago and said
Monday they will await the league’s review on the status of running back
Adrian Peterson.
Meanwhile, the NFL Players Association says it has filed a grievance to have
the running back reinstated based on an agreement it made with the league last
month.
Peterson has been on the commissioner’s reserve/exempt list since September
after being indicted on felony charges of reckless or negligent injury to a
child in his native Texas, and will remain off the Vikings’ active roster
until the NFL completes an investigation under the league’s personal conduct
policy.
“In regards to Adrian Peterson’s status with the Minnesota Vikings, at this
time his potential reinstatement is under NFL guidelines,” the team said in a
statement Monday. “As an organization, we respect and understand the league’s
process. In the interim, our focus is on the team and preparing for this
weekend’s game against the Bears.”
The 2012 NFL MVP avoided jail time by reaching a plea agreement with
Montgomery County (Texas) prosecutors last Tuesday. According to multiple
reports, Peterson pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of one count of
misdemeanor reckless assault and will receive probation along with a $4,000
fine and an order to serve 80 hours of community service.
Peterson was accused of using a wooden tree branch to hit his 4-year-old son
as a disciplinary measure, resulting in visible injuries to the child.
He and his attorneys had lobbied commissioner Roger Goodell for immediate
reinstatement following his plea deal, but the request was denied.
Instead, Peterson could face an additional suspension if found to have been in
violation of the personal conduct policy.
The NFLPA issued a statement last Thursday threatening to take legal action if
further punishment is issued.
On Monday, the union said it filed an expedited, non-injury grievance to
remove Peterson from the commissioner’s exempt list “based on explicit
language in a signed agreement” from Sept. 18.
“We asked the NFL to honor the terms of that agreement last week and as of
now, they have failed to respond or comply,” the statement said. “It is our
obligation to protect all players’ rights, and we will pursue any and all
breaches of any contract between a player and his team or the NFL.”
Peterson has not played since Minnesota’s season opener on Sept. 7. The All-
Pro back was briefly reinstated by the Vikings after being deactivated for the
team’s Week 2 game against New England, but the club quickly reversed course
and placed him on the exempt list after a wave of negative backlash from
sponsors, fans and Minnesota governor Mark Dayton.
The two-time league rushing champion also admitted to a court staffer that he
had used marijuana prior to taking a drug test after his initial hearing back
in October, which could factor into whether Goodell imposes any further
discipline.
