Running back Adrian Peterson has been reinstated and is back in his old spot in the Vikings’ starting lineup, but the courtroom fight over his suspension hasn’t gone away.
The NFLPA filed a contempt motion against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in May because they allege that the league did not comply with Judge David Doty’s February ruling that the league’s November suspension of Peterson should be reconsidered by an arbitrator. The NFL filed an appeal of Doty’s ruling, but did not seek a stay that would have kept the suspension in place pending appeal.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for August 13 unless the two sides can settle their differences before that point. U.S. Magistrate Judge Janie Mayeron ordered Monday that the two sides must meet “in person or telephonically” before July 30 to discuss a settlement of the issues surrounding the Peterson case. If they can’t reach a settlement before August 6, Mayeron scheduled a conference that will take place just before the contempt hearing.
“All participants should plan on spending the entire day and evening, if necessary, at this settlement conference,” Mayeron wrote, via 1500ESPN.com.
August 13 is also the last day of Vikings training camp, which means there’s a chance they’ll be working on preparing for the 2015 season while attorneys are continuing the fight over things from the 2014 season.