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Adrian Peterson chats with attorney Rusty Hardin (right) during an October 8 hearing. (Getty)
Adrian Peterson had been collecting more than $600,000 per week despite the fact that he hadn’t stepped foot on the field since Week 1.
That’s no longer the case.
The NFL announced that it was suspending the All-Pro running back for at least the duration of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy by beating his 4-year-old son earlier this year with a tree branch — conduct that prompted a Texas grand jury to indict Peterson on a felony child abuse charge.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Peterson Isn’t Eligible for Reinstatement Until April
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Peterson’s suspension is indefinite and will last for at least the duration of the season. He isn’t even eligible for reinstatement until April of 2015, meaning it’s possible the suspension will carry over into next year.
2. Peterson Pleaded No Contest to Child Abuse Charges
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Adrian Peterson exits the Montgomery County courthouse in October with his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, and his wife, Ashley Brown Peterson. (Getty)
Following a grand jury indictment in September for child abuse, Peterson struck a plea deal with prosecutors that allowed him to avoid jail time.
Prior to reaching the deal, Peterson was scheduled to go to trial at some time this year, with his lawyer hoping for a trial start in November.
Peterson’s representatives struck the deal with hopes that he’d be allowed to return to the field this year — hopes that were dashed by the league Tuesday.
3. Peterson Was a No-Show at His Disciplinary Hearing Last Week
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One of the factors that played into the league’s decision to issue a harsh punishment on Peterson was that the running back skipped a disciplinary hearing last Friday in New York, irking commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives.
4. Peterson Plans to Appeal the Suspension
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Peterson plans to appeal the decision. It’s likely he’ll be placed back on the commissioner’s exempt list while the appeal is pending, meaning he won’t be eligible to return to the Vikings but will go back to being paid during his absence.
5. The League Said Peterson Showed ‘No Meaningful Remorse’ for His Actions
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In a scathing letter released by the league, Goodell said Peterson showed “no meaningful remorse” for beating his son, raising “serious concern that you don’t appreciate the seriousness of your conduct.”
Peterson has acknowledged beating his 4-year-old son with a “switch,” but said he didn’t plan to stop “whooping” the child — comments that Goodell said provoked concern that Peterson would act similarly again in the future.
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