Adrian Peterson's appeal hearing will resume Thursday
Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson, right, arrives for a hearing for the appeal of his suspension on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. Credit: AP / Seth Wenig
The appeal hearing in New York for suspended Vikings running back Adrian Peterson lasted more than three hours Tuesday and will resume Thursday as he attempts to overturn NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's six-game ban.
Peterson is seeking reinstatement after Goodell suspended him for the remainder of the NFL regular season once the 29-year-old tailback pleaded no contest Nov. 4 to misdemeanor reckless assault for injuring his 4-year-old son in May. Peterson has admitted the injuries were the result of him disciplining the child.
Peterson reportedly did not testify Tuesday, but delivered a statement to Harold Henderson, a former NFL executive, who was selected by Goodell to hear the appeal. Henderson, who previously served as head of the league's management council, will call further witnesses Thursday. That includes NFL executive Troy Vincent, who told Peterson in a telephone conversation that he would be credited with time served while he was on the commissioner's exempt list since Week 1.
Peterson was placed on the list after being indicted on domestic assault charges. He was on paid leave until Goodell issued an unpaid suspension last month. In announcing the suspension, Goodell cited an Aug. 28 memo that included a new set of penalties for players and other NFL employees involved in domestic violence cases.
The NFL Players Association, which is representing Peterson in the appeal, called the suspension "unprecedented, arbitrary and unlawful." Peterson is being represented by Jeffrey Kessler, former lead attorney for the NFLPA.
The players' union last week won an appeal to have former Ravens running back Ray Rice reinstated. Rice had been suspended indefinitely Sept. 8, shortly after a video was posted showing him punching his then-fiancee Janay Palmer in February.
Henderson has not indicated when he expects to decide on the appeal.
With AP
Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”
