The NFL has reinstated running back Adrian Peterson, the league announced on Thursday. His reinstatement officially kicks in on Friday, at which point he can participate in any scheduled activities with the team.
Adrian Peterson reinstated by the NFL
Peterson is eligible to go back to work on Friday.
Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Peterson was indefinitely suspended by the league in November. During his appeal, Peterson successfully argued that the NFL had agreed in September to reinstate him when his legal issues had been resolved. However, he remained suspended once the NFL decided to file an appeal. Peterson met with league officials a week before April 15, the earliest date he was eligible for reinstatement.
After Peterson was formally reinstated, the NFL issued a statement:
“In a letter from Commissioner Roger Goodell, Peterson was informed that he is expected to fulfill his remaining obligations to the authorities in Minnesota and Texas, as well as the additional commitments Peterson made during his April 7 meeting with the commissioner regarding maintaining an ongoing program of counseling and treatment as recommended by medical advisors.”
The league also said that if Peterson violated the personal conduct policy in the future, he could face suspension without pay or even banishment from the NFL.
Now the question turns to whether Peterson will play for the Vikings during the 2015 season. Peterson’s been open about wanting to leave Minnesota, upset with the way the team handled him in the wake of the child abuse controversy last fall.
A team statement Thursday said “The Minnesota Vikings have been informed by the NFL that Adrian Peterson has been reinstated. We look forward to Adrian re-joining the Vikings.”
The Vikings have said publicly that they plan to have him on the field in purple and gold this season. Trade rumors have swirled and many expect something to happen during the 2015 NFL Draft, just two weeks away.
The controversy surrounding Peterson began in September when a grand jury in Montgomery County, Texas indicted the NFL star on felony charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. The Vikings responded by deactivating Peterson for their Week 2 game against the New England Patriots.
The team reinstated him the following Monday, leading to a storm of criticism from sponsors and even the governor of Minnesota. The Vikings eventually relented, placing Peterson on the commissioner’s permission/exempt list with the help of the league.
In November, Peterson pleaded down to one misdemeanor count of reckless assault, which resulted in a $4,000 fine, 80 hours of community service and a requirement to enroll in parenting classes. The plea bargain opened the door for the former MVP to seek reinstatement by the NFL.
When league officials declined to make a decision, the NFLPA filed an expedited, non-injury grievance on Peterson’s behalf.
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