Peterson Meets with Goodell Over Reinstatement
The NFL is preparing for the NFL Draft at the end of April, but the Commissioner’s office remains busy with other issues. On Tuesday, Adrian Peterson the running back for the Minnesota Vikings met with Roger Goodell the NFL commissioner regarding Peterson’s reinstatement to the league. The meeting was held just eight days prior to the expiration of Peterson’s suspension that the league invoked during last season under the league’s personal conduct policy.
The two met in New York at the league’s headquarters. Their meeting lasted about 90 minutes according to one person who had knowledge of the meeting. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation and of the information.
The reported meeting on Tuesday was the first time that commissioner Goodell and Peterson had spoken either face to face or via the telephone, since the case over child abuse that involved Peterson’s treatment of his son came to light in September of last year.
Representatives for Peterson accompanied him during the meeting, while Goodell had other league parties present as well.
Last season, shortly after Peterson entered into a plea deal that his attorneys were able to agree to with a court in Texas to reduce Peterson’s charge to a misdemeanor from a felony, Goodell suspended the Vikings running back for the rest of the 2014 season including the last six games. The suspension is scheduled to expire April 15, unless Goodell extends it.
When Peterson appealed that decision, it was denied by Harold Henderson an arbitrator. However, the NFL Players Association went to court and David Doty a U.S. District Court Judge ruled this past February that the decision by Henderson was to be voided and the case sent back to an arbitration process.
In appealing the decision by Doty, the NFL also tabled the suspension of Peterson and he was put on the special exempt list. He was on that same list for much of last season while the case of child abuse played out in court.
The appeal by the league to the U.S. Circuit Court in St. Louis began with a scheduling briefing that called for a hearing in June, with the first written arguments from the NFL due on Wednesday.
Once the playing status of Peterson is clarified, there will be the big matter of his disinterest in staying in Minnesota to continue his NFL career.
Ben Dogra, Peterson’s agent, said a couple of weeks ago that Peterson, who is 30, wants to continue his career with another team, but Minnesota has repeatedly said they want the running back to return and do not plan to trade him.
This season Peterson is due to receive $12.75 million in salary and it lasts for three more years.
