Adrian Peterson may be thinking about quitting football in favor of the Olympics, but he swung a mighty punch at the National Football League Monday, Dec. 15, when the NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit against the league on behalf of Peterson.
According to ESPN, the suit challenges arbitrator Harold Henderson's decision to uphold Peterson's suspension last week and calls said decision "biased, unfair and contrary to the collective bargaining agreement."
Much of the controversy centers around a phone conversation between Peterson and NFL Executive Vice President Troy Vincent, who allegedly promised a shorter suspension than the year-long one Peterson is currently enduring.
Sports Illustrated reported the leaked tape and transcribed the following bit of dialogue from the Nov. 12 discussion:
In the recording, Peterson asks Vincent whether he will get a two-game suspension.
Vincent replies, "Yeah."
Peterson: It will be two additional games — not time served?
Vincent: No, no, no, no, no, no. It won't ... the one this weekend. So really it's next weekend. You will be back.
Henderson's decision last week insinuated that Vincent never made such a promise.
"Mr. Vincent testified that he never promised a two-game suspension or that the old policy would control, but rather encouraged Mr. Peterson to 'go through the process and all things will be considered,''' Henderson wrote in his decision. "He said, 'I didn't promise Adrian anything. Never promised. Adrian needed to show up. Talk.'''
Vincent was unapologetic for the phone call.
"I cannot and will not regret reaching out to help someone, to guide them in prayer and give them words of encouragement," he told the Associated Press. "If people want to judge my sincerity by the content of their own hearts, I cannot change that. But when I see a young man like Adrian, I don't want to see him give up on his dreams because of a bad decision. No regrets. I will continue to pray for Adrian and the welfare of his children."
As previously reported, the Minnesota Vikings star faced serious public and legal scrutiny after beating his 4-year-old son with a smoothed tree branch – or switch — this September until the child bled through his clothes.
Virtually no one expected Peterson to return to Minnesota next season after the NFL handed down its punishment, but local reports are now saying otherwise:
Good chance that Adrian Peterson is playing for #Vikings next year. https://t.co/PZLlapNUHR pic.twitter.com/SsoO77yaP3
— Sid Hartman (@SidHartman) December 14, 2014
BREAKING: Adrian Peterson will return to Vikings in 2015. Exclusive report from Sid Hartman on #thesportsshow. — Patrick Reusse (@1500ESPN_Reusse) December 15, 2014
