By Lily Perez |Asst. A&E Editor|
The National Football League (NFL) announced Nov. 18 the Minnesota Viking’s running back Adrian Peterson is suspended without pay for the remainder of the season.
A storm of criticism came down on Peterson after he violated the league’s personal conduct policy in May.
Peterson is reported to have resorted to abusive disciplinary measures on his 4-year-old son using a wooden branch.
Peterson’s behavior is just one incident in the long string of abusive occurrences coming out of the professional sports world.
The NFL’s ruling came after Peterson pleaded guilty to the charges of reckless assault on Nov. 4.
Commissioner Roger Goodell stated in late August that, in moving forward, the league would resort to tougher consequences regarding players involved in incidents of domestic violence.
Goodell’s statement was in response to criticism the league received because of the lack of punishment given to NFL player Ray Rice.
Rice was videotaped earlier this year abusing his now wife in an elevator, and the league was criticized for the leniency with which this incident was treated.
Goodell delivered on his previous statement and brought down the hammer on Peterson and informed him of the league’s ruling through a letter stating,
“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. 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.”
Goodell continued by stating, “you must commit yourself to your counseling and rehabilitative effort, properly care for your children, and have no further violations of law or league policy.”
Peterson is entitled to an appeal within a three-business-day-window after the ruling has been made, and to nobody’s surprise, it was announced shortly after that an appeal would take place.
Goodell, who has set a counseling and treatment program in place, feels that Peterson has shown a lack of seriousness for his troubling behavior.
Goodell stated in his letter, “we are unaware of any effort on your part to acknowledge the seriousness of your conduct and your responsibility to demonstrate a genuine commitment to change.”
Any hopes that Peterson would return to the field for the remainder of Vikings season have been destroyed, causing some disagreement among fans.
The NFL Players Association was not pleased with the leagues ruling and stated, “the decision by the NFL to suspend Adrian Peterson is another example of the credibility gap that exists between the agreements they make and the actions they take.”
The NFL and the Players Association are clearly at odds with the handling of this case, and will continue to butt heads during the appeal case.
The Vikings did not seem to share the same view as the Players Association and were in agreement with the ruling stating, “we respect the league’s decision and will have no further comment at this time.”
Only time will tell what is determined with the pending appeal case, but we can be assured that any type of violence is unacceptable.
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