As has been rumored all weekend, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will plead out his charges today. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com the plea deal includes a $2,000 fine, probation and 80 hours of community service. A key aspect of the deal is the fact that he is not admitting to any family based, or domestic violence, something that could be key under the NFL’s new domestic violence policy.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Peterson will plead no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault. The plea will not include reference to family violence or violence against a minor.”
Adrian Peterson to Plead No Contest to Misdemeanor
Whether this will be enough for Peterson to avoid the mandatory six-game suspension from the NFL for domestic violence incident remains to be seen, as there are quite frankly no precedents under the policy which was put in place following the Ray Rice incident. With all the public PR around the NFL, Rice, and Peterson, I do believe though that this attempt to skirt the domestic abuse policy will not work.
Another factor to consider is that Peterson has missed 8 games, with pay, so far this season. Could the league take this into account, and instead dock his pay for 6 weeks while allowing him to play as early as this Sunday against the Bears? That would seem a possible scenario as the league had Josh Gordon play several weeks without pay in the 2013 NFL season.
If Peterson is indeed suspended for six games, he would be eligible to return for the Vikings final two games of the season. A good showing in those two games could give Peterson more leverage in negotiating with a new team next spring, following what appears to be an inevitable trade out of Minnesota.
If anything, today’s deal creates more questions for the NFL in the way they handle these cases. As of now they appear to be taking a cautious approach. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press on Peterson: “We will review the court documents. We cannot speculate on a timetable for a decision.”
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