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 The charges against Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer
of aggravated assault in connection with two alleged incidents of
domestic violence in late July come amid intensifying criticism from
corporate sponsors and politicians toward America's top sports
league.
Earlier on Wednesday, Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian
Peterson and Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy were both
placed by their teams on the so-called "exempt list," meaning they
must take a leave of absence while the cases against them are
resolved.
In announcing their actions, officials of both the Vikings and the
Panthers talked about the need "to get this right."
The two teams' decisions suggest a new tack by owners toward the
domestic violence scandal engulfing the 32-team NFL and its
commissioner, Roger Goodell.
A flurry of cases, most notably those of Peterson and Ray Rice, the
former Baltimore Ravens star who has also been suspended
indefinitely by the NFL, has raised questions about the league's
integrity and Goodell's leadership.
On Wednesday the level of criticism ratcheted up with the U.S. House
of Representatives Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, speaking up, and
moves by two big corporate sponsors - TD Ameritrade <AMTD.N> and
Nike <NKE.N>.
 Zygi Wilf, who co-owns the Vikings with his brother, Mark, said that
they had "made a mistake and we needed to get this right," after
they had reactivated Peterson on Monday following his indictment
last week on charges of beating his four-year-old son with a branch.
For the Panthers, general manager Dave Gettleman said the team was
disappointed in Hardy's behavior. "We have to get this right. He has
to get this right," Gettleman said.
Hardy, who was convicted in July of domestic violence, has appealed
the verdict. He has a trial date in November.
Regarding Dwyer, the Phoenix Police Department said the incidents
involved a 27-year-old woman and an 18-month-old child, but gave few
details. In an email, Sergeant Trent Crump said Dwyer "admitted to
the incidents, however, denied any physical assaults."
Crump said the 25-year-old player was booked into Maricopa County
Jail on one count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, one
count of aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of
criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a phone in an
emergency, and assault.
"Given the serious nature of the allegations we have taken the
immediate step to deactivate Jonathan from all team activities," the
Cardinals said in a statement.
The Cardinals said they became aware of the allegations on Wednesday
afternoon when they were notified by Phoenix police and they said
they are cooperating fully.
Crump said the two incidents were reported to police by neighbors
who said they heard fights, and that soon afterward the woman fled
the state with her and Dwyer's child, citing safety concerns for
herself.
The victim reported her injuries to police on Sept. 11 and said she
also received text messages from the player in which he threatened
to kill himself, Crump said.
 The moves came a day after the NFL was chastised by one of its top
sponsors, brewer Anheuser-Busch. But no sponsor has gone so far as
to cut its multimillion-dollar ties with the NFL.
Brokerage firm TD Ameritrade, which began a three-year affiliation
with the NFL this month, on Wednesday said "it was very much
considering its future" as a sponsor.
"We want to see (the NFL) learn from its mistakes and work quickly
to improve a culture that values inclusion, safety and respect for
its employees, their families and others," TD Ameritrade spokeswoman
Kim Hillyer said in an email.
Nike, known for its steadfast support for its athletes even in
troubled times, said it had suspended its contract with Peterson,
one of the league's most marketable players.
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Target Corp <TGT.N> on Wednesday said it was removing Peterson
merchandise from its retail stores and website in light of team's
most recent actions and customer feedback, spokeswoman Molly Snyder
said. POLITICIANS JOIN FRAY
The 29-year-old Peterson, the Vikings' best player, has been accused
of reckless or negligent injury to a child stemming from a whipping
incident that allegedly left bruises and wounds on his son.
The NFL called his suspension "a good decision."
Goodell has the sole authority to place a player on the exempt list
under what the league policy calls "unusual circumstances."
The Vikings will continue to pay the running back his full $11.75
million salary for this season. Team general manager Rick Spielman
declined to say whether Peterson would play again this season. If
Peterson's case goes to trial it would likely begin in 2015.
Mark Wilf said the franchise did not suspend Peterson in a bow to
pressure from team sponsors. Minnesota-based hotel chain Radisson
suspended a sponsorship deal with the Vikings on Monday.
The team also came under withering criticism from Minnesota Governor
Mark Dayton, who said on Tuesday that Peterson was a "public
embarrassment" to the team and state and should be suspended.
Goodell and the league are struggling to make amends for his initial
lenient punishment of Rice, who punched his then-fiancee, now his
wife, in February, knocking her unconscious.
Although Goodell has announced stricter penalties for domestic
violence offenders, that has done little to stem the tidal wave of
public criticism following the release of surveillance video last
week that showed Rice's punch, which the league said it had never
seen.
On Wednesday in Washington, top U.S. House Democrat Pelosi said
Congress could get involved because the league, which takes in $9
billion in annual revenue, has an anti-trust exemption.
"I think Congress always has a role, but again if you're talking
about anti-trust privileges and the rest of that, that certainly is
a big issue and it cannot be done except by the Congress," Pelosi
said at her weekly news conference in the Capitol, after being
peppered with NFL questions.
Goodell has since apologized for the handling of the Rice case. The
Pro Bowl running back on Tuesday appealed his indefinite suspension,
which came after the video's publication.
With Rice, Peterson and Hardy all suspended, one player accused of
domestic violence still remains eligible, San Francisco 49ers' Ray
McDonald.
Pelosi, an avid 49ers fan, said McDonald should not have taken the
field last week.
(Additional reporting by Steve Ginsburg, Ramkumar Iyer, Jed
Horowitz, Richard Cowan and Sam Adams; Editing by Leslie Adler, Eric
Walsh, Eric M. Johnson and Matt Driskill)
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