NFLPA Releases Statement on Adrian Peterson, Hints at Lawsuit

The NFL Players Association is coming out strongly in defense of Adrian Peterson, who is currently being allowed to twist in the wind while the NFL decides whether he should be suspended for his arrest on child abuse charges.

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As you know, Peterson’s legal case was resolved earlier this week when he pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of misdemanor assault. Despite the legal battle being resolved, the NFL has declined to immediately reinstate Peterson.

The NFLPA believes that the NFL is behaving in bad faith by refusing to reinstate Peterson right away and they have hinted that a lawsuit could be in the offing.

The union released the following statement, which ends with a warning about more action to come:

"Our union worked with the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings and Adrian’s representatives on a mutual agreement pending the adjudication of his legal case. Now that his legal matter is resolved, we believe it is Adrian’s right to be treated in a manner that is consistent with similar cases under our collective bargaining agreement. We will pursue any and all remedies if those rights are breached."

“Any and all remedies” is not a phrase that requires much clarification. Their strongest possible remedy would be to bring a suit against the NFL and ask a judge to force the league to let Adrian Peterson play.

Whether it actually comes to that is all up to the NFL. They can either act swiftly on this, which seems the only fair thing, or they can drag it out until Peterson’s entire 2014 season is wiped away.

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