Adrian Peterson Suspended: No Paydays in Sight

CNN reports that Adrian Peterson, the 29-year-old Minnesota Vikings’ star running back, has been suspended without pay by the NFL for at least the remainder of the season. The decision was announced on Tuesday, November 18, two weeks after Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge involving hitting his 4-year old son with a switch.

After entering his no contest plea, Peterson claimed that he should be reinstated according to a deal he struck with the league. However, an arbitrator ruled that Peterson should remain on the exempt list.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, however, called the method of discipline, a “switch” from a tree, used by Peterson “the functional equivalent of a weapon, particularly in the hands of someone with the strength of an accomplished professional athlete.” Moreover, Goodell contends that Peterson has failed to show any meaningful remorse and made comments that indicated he would continued with “whupping” his children.

Goodell said, “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.”

Court records indicate the boy suffered cuts and bruises to his back, thighs and one testicle.

Peterson is the father of five children. He also had a 2-year-old son whom he had never met who was the victim of homicide at the hands of the boyfriend of the child’s mother. Peterson had just learned about the child a few weeks before the boy’s death.

The earliest Peterson could be reinstated is April 15, 2015, according to Goodell and even then it would depend partly upon the running back’s willingness to take part in a counseling and treatment program.  Peterson’s salary for this season is $11.75 million, and he was paid for the time he was on the exempt list. He will lose about $4.1 million for the time he is suspended without pay.

Earlier this season, the Vikings deactivated Peterson for one game after the charges were made, but then reinstated him until the court case had been completed. A firestorm of controversy ensued, and he was then placed on the exempt list. Peterson has three years left on his contract with the Vikings, worth $45 million, although it is not guaranteed.