|
 The action taken by Commissioner Roger Goodell against one of the
NFL's marquee performers comes as America's most popular sports
league struggles to contain a scandal sparked by domestic violence
incidents involving several players.
The NFL players union quickly condemned Goodell's action as
"inconsistent," "arbitrary" and evidence of a "credibility gap" for
the league. It said it will appeal the suspension and demand that a
neutral arbitrator oversee the matter.
An independent arbitrator heard the case of Ray Rice, who Goodell
suspended from the league indefinitely after a video showed the
former Baltimore Ravens star knocking his fiancée unconscious in an
elevator.
Peterson, 29, pleaded no contest in Conroe, Texas this month to a
misdemeanor assault charge and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and
perform community service.
 Images showing Peterson's son with cuts and bruises all over his
body including his buttocks and genitals provoked outrage that
tarnished the reputation of one of the most productive running backs
of his generation and added to the league's public relations
nightmare.
In a sharply worded letter to Peterson, Goodell said the Vikings
star had "shown no meaningful remorse" for his conduct, noting that
a Texas grand jury concluded Peterson had "overstepped the bounds of
acceptable corporal punishment and engaged in physical abuse of your
child."
"While an adult may have a number of options when confronted with
abuse - to flee, to fight back or to seek help from law enforcement
- none of those options is realistically available to a 4-year-old
child," Goodell wrote.
Peterson will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15
for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, the league said. He
was arrested in September on a felony child abuse charge for
disciplining his son by repeatedly striking him with a thin tree
branch called a switch.
[to top of second column] |
Goodell said Peterson must undergo intensive counseling and
treatment before being considered for reinstatement. An NFL
statement called Peterson's action an "incident of abusive
discipline" and warned against any "repetition of this conduct."
Goodell wrote that "the injury inflicted on your son includes the
emotional and psychological trauma to a young child who suffers
criminal physical abuse at the hands of his father." Goodell added
that "the repetitive use of a switch in this instance is the
functional equivalent of a weapon, particularly in the hands of
someone with the strength of an accomplished professional athlete."
The union said Peterson was told that after his legal case was
resolved he would be allowed to play again. Goodell disputed that,
saying Peterson was always subject to NFL discipline regardless of
the outcome of his legal case.
Peterson played in the season's first game before being placed on
Goodell's "exempt" list, keeping him off the field but allowing him
to draw his $11.75 million salary.
(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Will Dunham)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
