Adrian Peterson And His Agent Offer Statements On Court Ruling
By Adam Carlson
Recently, Judge Doty handed down a decision to overturn Adrian Peterson’s suspension by the NFL and that has prompted a bit of craziness throughout the Minnesota Vikings fan base. While this doesn’t mean that Peterson is reinstated or that he has been removed from the Exempt/Commissioner’s permission list, it does make him one step closer to getting back on the football field.
In a statement issued today by the running back, Adrian Peterson expressed some pleasure in learning about the decision and spoke of returning to football. Here is the statement as given in the article on NFL.com:
"“I was pleased to learn about Judge Doty’s decision. It is a positive step in protecting players’ rights and preserving due process for all players. It also brings me one step closer to getting back on the football field and playing the sport I love. As I prepare for my return to football, I am still focused on my family and continue to work to become a better father every day. I want to express my gratitude for all of the support I have received from the fans, NFLPA, Jeffrey Kessler, and my agents Ben Dogra, Tracy Lartigue, and Mark Heligman from Relativity Sports.”"
Feb 6, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson autographs a sign for fan Brady Vixayvong outside the U.S. District Courthouse as the NFL Players Association
It is interesting to note that Adrian Peterson didn’t thank the Minnesota Vikings organization, the Wilf Family, or his teammates in the statement. Perhaps it is just an oversight and he personally thanked those people in a method outside of this statement, but at a time when the Vikings fan base is unsure of Peterson’s desire to return to Minnesota, it is a bit worrisome.
In addition to the statement from Adrian Peterson, his agent from Relativity Sports issued a statement as well. Here is what Ben Dogra said about the court’s ruling:
"“I am pleased that U.S. District Judge David Doty recognized the merits of Adrian Peterson’s case and ruled in his favor. This is an important moment for Adrian, players’ rights, and the NFLPA. Adrian is an exceptional community member, father, husband and athlete who will continue to contribute meaningfully on and off the field. Any NFL team will be fortunate to have Adrian on its roster as he will consistently serve as a strong leader and impactful performer.”"
Again, there is no talk of the Minnesota Vikings in this statement from Adrian Peterson’s agent. Plus, the mentioning of “Any NFL team” instead of the team in which he is currently under contract for is a bit odd. However, it is to note that Ben Dogra is the same agent that was said to have a heated exchange with Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski in Indianapolis during the NFL Combine, so it’s possible there is still some bad blood there for now.
As always, stay tuned for more updates on the Adrian Peterson situation as new tidbits of information seem to come out daily.
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