Vikings Place Adrian Peterson on Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission List

Aug 16, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) high fives fans as he leaves the stadium against the Arizona Cardinals at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings have changed course once more placing All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson on Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission List.

A statement from the Vikings makes clear that Adrian Peterson will have to remain away from the team until the situation is resolved, which may not be until 2015 per his reported court date time range.  Peterson will likely miss the remainder of the season and who knows what the plan will be in 2015.

And if you’re wondering, Peterson is still due $10.38 million over the course of 2014.

The Vikings’ decision will be appreciated by all, but will inevitably be taken with a caveat as the Vikings were intending to play him prior to this decision; the team had reinstated Peterson on Monday.  Mounting pressure against both the organization and NFL likely led to the team’s latest decision as Radisson Hotel pulled its sponsorship of the team and the league saw pressure from sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, McDonald’s, PepsiCo, etc.  The decision was announced in the early morning hours today as the team likely prepared it’s statement and course of action carefully.

The Vikings did the right thing here in the end, and the right thing for Peterson also.  The NFL should have the responsibility to use its social influence to promote responsible behavior.  As I stated in another piece (here), it’s a difficult spot for all involved as the law does not clearly define the issue nationwide; many parents continue to utilize physical discipline with their children–as do schools apparently.  But nonetheless,  the NFL and its teams should embrace their social responsibility and push important issues.  Although they have mishandled such situations to date, this decision is a good first step.  It will hold the league’s employees to a higher standard while also allowing Peterson the necessary time to work through these issues and possibly help endorse better parenting in the future; he certainly has the social standing to do that.  I hope this forces the country to take a hard look at child rearing because this issue is bigger than Peterson.  He did something that numerous parents do and countless have done in the past.  I don’t necessarily believe Peterson is a child abuser, but I hope he uses this as an opportunity to correct himself and push for more progressive parenting in the future; we all owe it to our nation’s future generations.