The NFLPA got what it wanted. Kind of. Sort of. Not really.
Commissioner Roger Goodell will not handle the appeal of Adrian Peterson’s rest-of-season suspension. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Goodell has delegated the appeal to Harold Henderson, a former NFL executive who routinely resolves appeals under the league’s substance-abuse, PED, and personal conduct policies.
Most recently, Henderson handled the appeal of Browns receiver Josh Gordon’s full-season suspension, upholding the banishment before a revised substance-abuse policy reduced the penalty to 10 games.
The NFLPA had wanted an independent arbitrator. Henderson isn’t entirely independent. But it’s not Goodell or any current NFL official or executive.
Peterson’s appeal contends that the NFL is applying a rule that was adopted after the conduct for which Peterson is being disciplined occurred. Peterson’s appeal also claims that the punishment is too extreme in comparison to other punishments in other cases.
Per Glazer, the hearing will be held on December 2. Depending on the ruling and its timing, Peterson could be back with the Vikings by December 7, against the Jets.