The Vikings aren’t going to suspend Adrian Peterson – at least not for the time being – but the true boss of the National Football League Roger Goodell can drop the suspension hammer on Peterson any time he wants.
Goodell hasn’t, and based on reports out of the New York Post, the NFL doesn’t plan to suspend Peterson unless he’s convicted of the child abuse charges he’s facing in Texas.
If Governor Mark Dayton had a say in the situation, he wouldn’t have allowed the Vikings to reinstate the star running back.
Associated Press: MN Gov Mark Dayton says @Vikings shld suspend Adrian Peterson. pic.twitter.com/iALFs4O8zl
— Patrick Kessler (@PatKessler) September 16, 2014
U.S. Senator Al Franken also is calling for Peterson’s benching.
US Senator @alfranken weighs in on Adrian Peterson situation, calls on #vikings to bench him. pic.twitter.com/qj5zFXABOp
— Zach Schneider (@zschneider218) September 16, 2014
Gary Myers of the New York Daily News says Goodell can restore his image – which was tarnished by the way he mishandled Ray Rice’s case – by taking his pick of any of the following reasons he has to force the Vikings to bench its best player.
“The personal conduct policy does not require cases first be adjudicated in order for Goodell to impose discipline. It doesn’t require a conviction. It requires common sense. One of the circumstances that allow Goodell to punish Peterson is “egregious circumstances, significant bodily harm or risk to third parties, or an immediate and substantial risk to the integrity and reputation of the NFL.”
Many talking heads believe the Patriots 30-7 drubbing of the Vikings on Sunday is the sole reason the team chose to reinstate Peterson after serving a one-game suspension. General Manager Rick Spielman said Monday that the decision to put Peterson back on the field had nothing to do with his superstar status.
The only thing missing from Vikings GM Rick Spielman's statement to reinstate AP was "did you see the final score from our game yesterday?"
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) September 16, 2014
ESPN’s Keith Olbermann put together a string of tweets, calling Peterson a “monster” while referencing his two-part video series of what he called the “National Freefall League.” Olbermann wants Goodell’s message to the world to be: “We will not defend a man who beats his 4-year-old boy with a stick.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpkZUygwvashttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIcDg2Vyqz4
Mike Lupica, esteemed columnist for the New York Daily News, called the Vikings “phony” and Goodell “Roger Dodger” for allowing due process to take its course before taking action against Peterson.
“So Peterson gets to play on Sunday, all in the name of due process, which does a hell of a lot more for him than it ever did for his children.
“One game off from work. That ought to teach him.”
Those are just a few of many similar opinions on the issue. How do Vikings fans feel about the situation? Their emotions are mixed, but as we pointed out on Monday, many of the Purple faithful are supporting Peterson.
