ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen are reporting that the NFLPA sent a letter to the league on Friday requesting the immediate reinstatement of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson from the commissioner’s exempt list. Peterson has been out since September while his child abuse case played out in court, but he agreed to a plea deal on Tuesday, clearing the way for his return to the NFL.
The NFLPA will likely file an expedited non-injury grievance should the NFL decline to reinstate Peterson, using the argument that while the league is reviewing Peterson’s case the running back should be allowed to play (like other players are). The NFL will counter that this was the plan that had been agreed to when they placed Peterson on the exempt list, and that they are merely following the process as laid out in the personal conduct policy.
For everybody involved’s sake, the league and commissioner Roger Goodell are pushing to finish their investigation and make a ruling on any Peterson suspension as quickly as possible. Given the public relations nightmare the NFL has faced this season, they’ll surely want to put this behind them and get it out of the news cycle as quickly as possible.
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