Adrian Peterson Could Miss First 3 Games Of 2015

Oct 8, 2014; Conroe, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson enters the Montgomery county courthouse for his arraignment. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2014; Conroe, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson enters the Montgomery county courthouse for his arraignment. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is still waiting for word on an appeal to his suspension, but if it fails, he will miss the rest of this season and some of the 2015 season.

Things could get from bad to worse for Adrian Peterson if he doesn’t win his appeal of the six-game suspension levied to him by the NFL. The star running back could still miss the rest of the 2014 if his appeal overturns the original suspension, but if he loses, he risks missing the first few games of the 2015 season.

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ESPN reports, ‘A decision on Peterson’s appeal of his six-game suspension for violation of the personal conduct policy is expected this week from the NFL’s hearing officer, Harold Henderson.’

Six games is a big chunk of time and it’s entirely possible that Henderson rules in Peterson’s favor and still keeps Peterson out for the 2014 season, which prompts ESPN to note, ‘Adrian Peterson is unlikely to play this season, regardless of the result of the Vikings star’s suspension appeal,’ per a source.

However, what we hadn’t been sure of was how this would affect next season. Now we know, and its effects will spread beyond the plans of the Minnesota Vikings, who surely must be deciding whether or not they want to go forward with Peterson as their running back.

If the Vikings do let Peterson go, any other team will want to keep an eye on this hearing to see if they’d be signing a running back for 16 NFL games or for fewer.

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