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Reinstatement of Adrian Peterson not expected anytime soon

By Alexandra Huber

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 /
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NFL not close to a decision on running back Adrian Peterson’s reinstatement.

If you’re waiting for a decision regarding Adrian Peterson’s reinstatement into the NFL, it looks like you’ll have to wait a little while longer.

Wednesday marks the first day that star Vikings running back, who plead no contest to child abuse last fall, would be eligible for reinstatement into the league. However, according to NFL.com, it is unlikely that any concrete decision will be reached or announced today.

Instead, April 15 marks the day the NFL will conduct the first review of Peterson’s reinstatement bid.

It looks as though the NFL and Goodell will take their time, which is unsurprising considering that, if the league had its way, his reinstatement would not be up for consideration.

Peterson joined the NFL’s Exempt List last fall when he plead no contest to hitting his four year-old son with a switch, which caused substantial injuries to the young boy.

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In February, a U.S. District court ruled in Peterson’s favor regarding the NFL Players Association’s lawsuit against the NFL.

Even when Peterson is reinstated, however, the team he will suit up for will be undetermined. While Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman have both state that they’d like Peterson to return, the running back and his agent are clearly exploring all their options. If Peterson were to return to the Vikings, his first mandatory appearance would be June’s minicamp in Minnesota. That leaves plenty of time for Goodell to drag out his decision.

Peterson and Ray Rice, the former Baltimore Raven who was caught on video punching his then-fiance in an elevator, have caused serious public relations issues for the NFL in the past year.

Whatever decision is made, Goodell needs to ensure that it’s the right one. And wherever Peterson ends up, it will be interesting to survey the backlash, or lack thereof, from the various fan bases.

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