The NFL has scheduled Adrian Peterson’s opportunity to appeal his season-long suspension, but the NFL Players Association isn’t happy with who will be hearing the case.
The Minnesota Vikings star running back was suspended for the rest of the season on Nov. 18, just days after he reached a plea deal with prosecutors in his child abuse case. Peterson already missed most of the season, only playing in week one before he was arrested. While he missed those games, he was on the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list and was paid by the team.
According to USA Today, Peterson’s appeal will take place on Dec. 2. Commissioner Roger Goodell has picked former NFL executive VP for labor relations Harold Henderson to hear the appeal. That choice has the players union angry.
“To position a league lawyer as quote-unquote 'neutral' when he has to decide between inconsistent statements by league officials, the credibility of Troy Vincent and the unilateral actions of his boss can only be described as hubris,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told USA Today.
The NFLPA is particularly disappointed with the suspension because they say NFL executive VP Troy Vincent told them that Peterson’s nine weeks off the field would be considered time served, a claim that the NFL denies.
Peterson was suspended under the league’s personal conduct policy. He has since vowed to never use a switch on his children again.
image courtesy of Roger Wong/INFphoto.com