Adrian Peterson Rips NFL Disciplinary Process

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is waiting to learn if and when he can return to the team. In the meantime, Peterson is denying a report that he blew off the NFL diciplinary hearing on Friday.

On Friday, a report surfaced that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson skipped out on his disciplinary hearing with the NFL.

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However, Peterson is denying those reports.

On Sunday morning, Peterson released a full statement giving his side of the story. In the statement, Peterson claims the report that he skipped the hearing is “not true” and he then went on to explain the advice he received and criticized the NFL for making up the entire situation as they go.

Here is the full statement:

"The report that I backed out of a meeting with the NFL is just not true. When Roger Goodell’s office asked that I attend the “hearing” on Friday, I consulted with my union and learned that this “hearing” was something new and inconsistent with the CBA. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this past week, my union sent emails, letters, and had conversations with his office on my behalf asking about the nature of the hearing, how it was to occur, who would participate, and its purpose.We repeatedly asked them to respond quickly to my questions because I want to cooperate and get back on the field, but they didn’t respond until late Wednesday evening, and even then they didn’t answer important questions about their proposed “hearing.” After consulting with the union, I told the NFL that I will attend the standard meeting with the Commissioner prior to possible imposition of discipline, as has been the long-term practice under the CBA, but I wouldn’t participate in a newly created and non-collectively bargained pre-discipline “hearing” that would include outside people I don’t know and who would have roles in the process that the NFL wouldn’t disclose.At this point, I’ve resolved my matter in the criminal court; I’ve worked to make amends for what I’ve done; I’ve missed most of the season, and I stand ready to be candid and forthcoming with Mr. Goodell about what happened. However, I will not allow the NFL to impose a new process of discipline on me, ignore the CBA, ignore the deal they agreed to with me, and behave without fairness or accountability. The process they are pushing is arbitrary, inconsistent, and contrary to what they agreed to do, and for those reasons, I never agreed to the hearing. I’m sorry for all of this, but I can’t excuse their refusal to be fair."

When Peterson initially agreed to the NFL commissioner’s exempt list, he did so with the belief he would be welcomed back when his legal issues were resolved.

Now that Peterson has reached a plea deal and put the child abuse situation behind him, he is hoping that he will be able to return to the league sooner rather than later. For the sake of everyone involved, this will hopefully get resolved soon.

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