Peterson Indicted for Child Abuse

[Scott K]

Quote:

The NFL rejected a request from Adrian Peterson's camp for immediate reinstatement following his plea deal Tuesday.

[BuckSutherland]

Quote:

MINNEAPOLIS -- The mother of Adrian Peterson's son agrees with the plea deal the Minnesota Vikings star reached on Tuesday and doesn't want Peterson's career to be harmed by the child abuse case that has already taken the running back off the field for eight games this season, according to a statement released by her attorney.

Peterson pleaded no contest Tuesday to one misdemeanor count of reckless injury to a child, after he injured his 4-year-old son in May while disciplining him with a wooden switch. He hasn't played since the Vikings' season opener Sept. 7 and is awaiting a decision from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about whether he will face additional league sanctions or be allowed to resume his career.

In a statement, attorney Kelly Dohm said "the entire matter has been very difficult for all involved parties." The statement did not name the boy's mother but said, "She has valued her friendship with Mr. Peterson over the last seven years. She and Mr. Peterson have shared a parental relationship for four years with a fun, beautiful little boy. My client knows that Mr. Peterson loves their son very much and has confidence that he will remain an involved parent with their son throughout his life.

"My client asks the media and the public to respect her and their son's privacy. My client has no interest in Mr. Peterson's career being harmed and hopes that the NFL will not impose any additional punishment on him."

Peterson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, said on ESPN's "Mike & Mike" on Wednesday that Peterson never intended to injure his son while administering discipline in May, and while Hardin added that Peterson has not changed his mind about the usefulness of corporal punishment, he was sorry for what happened to his son.

"He loves his son. He wants to get back in a relationship with him," Hardin said. "He obviously hates what has happened to him and his reputation and the public perception. This is a guy who was incredibly active with his foundation, did all kinds of things for kids, had a great relationship with his kids, and all of that has just been tremendously disheartening for him. But on the other hand, he's an optimistic guy, and he's a workout fiend. All he's had time to do while he's sat and waited for this to be resolved is to work out, so he's probably in better shape than if he had been playing.

"He wants to rehabilitate his image within the public, and people's perception, because he and everybody close to him knows that it's a wrong perception. He's a caring and loving father. He loves kids, and he hates that this happened."

Hardin said he hopes Peterson "doesn't fall prey to all these publicized events involving other people, which had nothing to do with his situation." He said a grand jury informed him Sept. 4 that it had declined to charge Peterson only to return on Sept. 11 and tell Hardin it was reconsidering Peterson's case, three days after a surveillance video of Ray Rice abusing his then-fiancée surfaced on TMZ.

In conjunction with his first court appearance on Oct. 8, Peterson admitted to a worker conducting his drug test that he "smoked a little weed." That admission, according to ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder, could factor into Goodell's review of whether to reinstate Peterson, though Hardin said Peterson told the truth when he could have lied about smoking marijuana.

"I'm not saying he gets special credit for doing something the law says he shouldn't do," Hardin said. "People make mistakes. He made a mistake. That doesn't make it right. It doesn't excuse it. It does mean that when he does accept his responsibility, he should be allowed to move forward."

[BuckSutherland]

Quote:

The NFL rejected an attempt for immediate reinstatement by Adrian Peterson’s camp, according to FOX Sports.

Peterson entered a plea agreement Tuesday in a child abuse case in Texas, avoiding jail time. Peterson played in the first game of the season for the Minnesota Vikings, before being suspended for one game based on the child abuse allegations. Vikings officials then decided to keep Peterson off the field and away from the team to allow the legal process to play out. Since then, Peterson has been on the commissioner’s exempt list receiving full pay during the legal process.

According to the report, Peterson’s camp was in contact with the NFL regarding the status and progression of the plea-deal. The league told FOX Sports’ sources that a decision will be made by the NFL and Peterson would be informed of the decision once there is a conclusion, but there is no timetable.

The Vikings' next game is Nov. 16, when they travel to play the Chicago Bears.

Not like they didnt have several weeks to think about it and game out all the different scenarios. More poor handling by the NFL. Just get it over with so everyone can move on. No use letting everyone sit and blow in the wind over it. With or without Peterson the Vikings still have an organization to run.

[MNice]

I'm sure the NFL has plenty on their plate too. A child beating, pot smoking, baby manufacturing plant just may not be the top priority.

[FISHINGURU]

The NFL doesn't want to get over it, they probably made their decision weeks ago, just gotta milk it a bit first and pretend they gave it a long hard thought.

We shouldn't have to worry since none of this news made it into the "trending now" section, no one cares anymore.

[PierBridge]

So the NFL handled it poorly? How so?

Never mind we have heard it all from they should have kicked him out of the league for good. Too, he never should have missed a game its how they do it in the south.

The last part is usually viking fans or guys who HAVE AP in fantacy.

[corncob]

The biggest thing the NFL has on their plate is COVERING THEIR OWN AS%!.....AP will unfortunately have to pay for what likely will be the NFL's overreaction to the AP situation....I mean, how about a full season suspension, a fine equally his entire years pay, and have one hand amputated...That might, I say might, do it....Maybe not!

[PierBridge]

Over reaction to beating a 4 year old with a weapon...hmmmm.

[FISHINGURU]

The NFLPA has issued a statement in response to the NFL’s decision to keep Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on the Commissioner-Exempt list now that his legal case has ended. Drafted in a way that avoids overt accusations or obvious confrontation, the message residing between the lines is unmistakable — the union believes the league is treating Peterson unfairly.

“Our union worked with the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings and Adrian’s representatives on a mutual agreement pending the adjudication of his legal case,” the union said. “Now that his legal matter is resolved, we believe it is Adrian’s right to be treated in a manner that is consistent with similar cases under our collective bargaining agreement. We will pursue any and all remedies if those rights are breached.”

In other words (and as a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT), the NFLPA believes the league has breached the agreement that Peterson will remain on the Commissioner-Exempt list pending resolution of his legal case. The legal case has ended, and the NFL has refused to reinstate Peterson until after the NFL completes its review of the case under the personal conduct policy.

Apart from being a violation of the deal, it sends a clear message to the NFLPA and all players who find themselves in a similar situation in the future. With the NFL and the Vikings desperate to come up with a way to keep Peterson off the field under circumstances in which neither the league nor the team could discipline him, the NFLPA and Peterson agreed to the use of the Commisioner-Exempt list until the legal case ends. Now that the NFL has gotten what it wanted at a time when it had a high degree of urgency to secure an agreement from the union and the player, the NFL is reneging on its end of the bargain.

In future cases of this nature, then, the NFLPA and the player should refuse to agree to anything. By violating Peterson’s deal, the NFL has shown that, on matters of this nature, it can’t be trusted.

That’s the most disappointing aspect of this. The NFL made a deal and now won’t honor it. At a time when the NFL has insisted that it will be getting its house in order, that’s not the way to do it

[amateurfishing]

Over reaction to beating a 4 year old with a weapon...hmmmm.

.....while actually UNDERSTANDING what he did was wrong?!....mmmmm. if the NFL wants to make him a posterchild and throw the book at him, they have every right to attempt to do so, and in return AP should sue their arse for liable. He served 8 games, fine him, reinstate him, and move on. NFL has to set a precedent but cant if entire book is thrown at him right away.

[PierBridge]

Im all for reinstatement....i was just wondering how the NFL botched the entire case as was suggested above. Even though the Vikings, the NFl and the players union all agreed to the original deal.

But yeah the union does have a point now.

I say 2 or 4 game fine and reinstate him. If the Vikes dont want him cut him.

[nofishfisherman]

The misstep by the leauge in all of this is not making a quick decisive decision. Same in the Ray Rice situation. They pay more attention to media blow back than anything else.

My point in all of this is that it shouldn't be open to interpretation. Have guidelines established before hand that makes handing out punishment fair, uniform, and timely. No more letting players and teams hang in the wind while their future is being decided. No more making one decision and then changing their minds once they gauge media blow back.

[PierBridge]

So you would have liked to have had some set in stone deal made before he was found guilty or not guilty.

or just do nothing let him play until the court stuff was over inspite of season ticket holders fans and spinsor backlash.

Would anybody agree that its not that simple of a problem?

[Rick]

It is a simple issue, once the legal process is played out the league mete's out consequences consistently.

It really is that simple.

The media mob is not qualified to deal out consequences consistently. For the league to give consequences based on the news cycle is an awful way to deal with someone. Emotional hype is the media's game and it makes them money. They have a vested interest in bloodying folks and to keep on doing it as long as other sinners ( ) will jump onto the media's hyped up bandwagon.

What AP did was wrong, deal out the consequences, corrective measures - legal and league - and move on.

[rundrave]

the league is going to take their sweet time since the vikes are on a bye week that way they dont get criticized for acting too fast.

And now he just adds to the problem.

Prosecutors in Montgomery County, Texas, have filed paperwork to have Adrian Peterson's bail revoked and the running back re-arrested after the Minnesota Vikings running back told a court employee that he had recently smoked marijuana before taking a drug test Wednesday.

how come no one is mentioning anything about the pot he smoked prior to the hearing, he is also going to face some repercussions from that isn't het?

[Surface Tension]

Talks with Peterson's reps and the Goodall should have been kept private.

Instead one day after AP's sentence they ask for reinstatement and make it public.

Did AP's lawyers really think the league was going to say one day after the sentencing "you can play now". So now AP's camp publicly makes threats against the league. Smart move, push some more and the NFL will dig it's heels in even more.

Diplomacy folks, give your opponent the opportunity to see things your way and still save face.

[Big Dave2]

It is a simple issue, once the legal process is played out the league mete's out consequences consistently.

It really is that simple.

This.^^^^^^^^^^^^

They've had 8 weeks to figure it out. I would think they could have had a couple different scenarios ready to roll by now.

[amateurfishing]

Woulda, coulda, shoulda, yes the league should have a decent response by now, but $$$$ cures all with the NFL. It would not shock me one bit if they were running scenarios by sponsors first since Rog is judge, jury, & executioner all in one, & if u wanna appeal, thats him too. Nothing wil be fixed or decided properly till this issue is. No issue will have proper and concise guidelines and protocols till hus "new committee" is set up. In the meantime under current protocol,he was already suspended, charge him a fine, reinstate, and move on. At least then there is a base for future. Cannot just make something up on the fly now which kinda appears Rog is doing unless something else developes by monday.

[luckycrank]

By suspending AP , for 8 weeks prior to court preeceding

The vikings organization and NFL in fact found him guilty of child abuse (felony) ,before the judicial system found him guilty of assault ( gross misdermeaner) ..Just as if the mother had pulled out a gun and shot him before he was charges and sentenced in a court of law .

Leave it to the NFL to think they are bigger than the law. .Time has been served ..

Fining him at this point is pointless and only strengthens the case, Peterson and NFLPA. Could possibly contest that premature actions by the NFL resulted in defamation of charecter..

[luckycrank]

They accepted the plea . Maybe the case wasnt as solid as the media made it to be

[LMITOUT]

.Time has been served ..

Fining him at this point is pointless and only strengthens the case, Peterson and NFLPA. Could possibly contest that premature actions by the NFL resulted in defamation of charecter..

He's been getting paid under the status that he's been put under. The NFL hasn't punished him, yet.

Not to mention that weed thing he admitted to...

If the NFL doesn't bench him the Vikings should and then cut him at the end of the season. They never should have resigned him anyway.

[FISHINGURU]

He's been punished by the league by not playing since Week 1.

Does anyone even know if the weed thing really exists? Why has there never been any report of him actually failing the test? Doesn't really matter if someone says they smoked a little weed but then pass, if he even really said that.

If it's true he only smoked a little weed, a guy like AP with not much body fat wouldn't stay in his system for more then a couple days, unless he's an everyday smoker.

[LMITOUT]

He's been punished by the league by not playing since Week 1.

That's not considered league punishment. The Vikings put him into that status.

The NFL will want to get their piece of him before this is all over (and they should nail his a$$ to the wall), but regardless the Vikings need to sever ties with this dirtbag anyway.

[harvey lee]

The media is about as good as some of our Gov agencies, can't believe half of what they say. As soon as the NFL gets a policy set with punishments, they will be better suited to deal with these incidents. I see AP playing soon especially if he threatens to sue the NFL is they decide to make an example of him. Since he may only end up with a misdemeanor for this, AP will be back whether he should or not. It's all about the money and the NFL is simply to wushu washy. Only time will tell in regards to AP's future. No doubt in mind mind he will play again.

[amateurfishing]

That's not considered league punishment. The Vikings put him into that status.

The NFL will want to get their piece of him before this is all over (and they should nail his a$$ to the wall), but regardless the Vikings need to sever ties with this dirtbag anyway.

What are u smoking? The vikings did not do anything, the only one that could and did was Goodell, AP was on the commish's "unable to play but still get paid" list, and Goodell is only one that can take him off it. They wont just "sever" ties wich such a super star a d he is far from a dirt bag, just an kver anxious misguided father.