Responding to a grievance filed by the players’ union on behalf of Adrian Peterson, the NFL says it is not dragging its feet on determining discipline — but the league would like Peterson to provide information that he so far has not provided.
“We have received the NFLPA’s grievance on behalf of Adrian Peterson,” the NFL said in a statement. “We have honored our commitment to Mr. Peterson and the NFLPA not to process or impose any discipline until the criminal charges pending in Texas were resolved. When Mr. Peterson decided not to contest criminal charges, we promptly advised both him and the NFLPA that we were prepared to consider what, if any, discipline should now be imposed under the Personal Conduct Policy. We asked Mr. Peterson and his representatives, including the NFLPA, for relevant information. We have not received any of the requested information, but remain prepared to schedule a hearing and make a determination as quickly as possible based on as much information as available.”
Peterson has only played in one game this season and has essentially been on paid leave since he was indicted on a charge of injuring a child. Peterson entered a no contest plea last week and now wants to be reinstated, but the NFL has declined to say when Peterson might be removed from the Commissioner’s Exempt List and allowed to return to the field.
If Peterson wins his grievance, it doesn’t mean he can definitely play. It just means that the NFL has to either let him play or suspend him, and remove him from the limbo of the Exempt List.