Adrian Peterson of Vikings suspended without pay for rest of season after plea in child-abuse case
Citing “no meaningful remorse,” among other factors, Commissioner Roger Goodell of the NFL has suspended star Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, without pay, for at least the rest of the regular football season.
Peterson pleaded no contest earlier this month to reckless assault for repeatedly striking his 4-year-old son with a switch earlier this year.
Goodell called the thin stick “the functional equivalent of a weapon, particularly in the hands of someone with the strength of an accomplished professional athlete,” reports USA Today. Peterson had originally faced a felony child-abuse case.
He almost certainly will contest the suspension, which was imposed under a NFL personal conduct policy revised in August, and request neutral arbitration,
Peterson was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine in the Montgomery County, Texas, child-abuse case, reports CNN.
ESPN and the New York Times (reg. req.) also have stories.
“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,” said Goodell in a Tuesday letter to Peterson.
“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.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “New NFL policy imposes 6-game suspension for domestic or sexual assault, banishment for 2nd offense”
ABAJournal.com: “Vikings’ Adrian Peterson says sorry for hurting son, 4, in latest incident to test new NFL policy”
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “NFL suspends Ray Rice indefinitely after new video shows Ravens player punching fiancee”
