The National Football League has asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit the NFL Players Association filed on behalf of suspended Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
The league’s motion was filed in U.S. District Court Friday.
The lawsuit was filed by the union on behalf of Peterson, who is suspended until at least April 15.
According to ESPN, the league argues in the document that Commissioner Roger Goodell had the authority to suspend Peterson under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The league also says the collective bargaining agreement gave Goodell the right to choose arbitrator Harold Henderson – a former league executive – to hear Peterson’s appeal.
The league also claimed that in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement with the union, any arguments about the fairness of Peterson’s suspension are heard by an arbitrator, not a federal court. The league argues the NFLPA’s 74-page petition amounted to “nothing more than a transparent effort to re-litigate all of the issues,” according to the Associated Press.
The union contends Peterson did not receive a fair appeals hearing. In a Dec. 12 interview with ESPN, Peterson said he was disappointed with the entire process.
“With all the facts that were presented to (the arbitrator), it seemed like a no-brainer,” Peterson said. “But when you gets paid $4 million by the guy who appointed you as arbitrator, I knew the odds were against me. It would have been nice to have an unbiased arbitrator, and not have anyone who has the NFL’s best interests in mind in that type of situation.”
Peterson’s hearing is scheduled to go before U.S. District Court judge David Doty on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.
