This e-mail arrived in response to a recent blog that I wrote. The blog disagreed with what I perceive to be NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's over-the-top discipline and astounding arrogance in handling the Adrian Peterson case.

The gentleman sending this e-mail gave his name, and I'll keep that to myself. What he offers is experience in dealing with offenders in similar cases and what I find to be excellent insights:

"As a former public defender for 30 years in California, I can assure you there is virtually no profession in this country that would independently punish Adrian Peterson's conduct separate from the judicial consequences.

"We see a wide cross-section of people -- truckers, mechanics, clerks, even lawyers and other professionals -- over-disciplining their children, even causing cuts and bruises.

"Unless there is a history of abuse, these cases almost always resolve for misdemeanor sentences, probation, counseling, and maybe a small fine or community service. Child Protective Services also steps in to monitor the family to help insure future child safety.

"The bottom line: Nobody goes to jail for first-time child abuse not resulting in serious injury.

"The bigger point is that almost nobody gets punished at work for such conduct. Misdemeanants don't get suspended by their employers. They don't get fined by their employers. Their employers usually don't demand counseling separate from the judicial system …

"For Adrian Peterson to get suspended for six games and lose millions of dollars is absurd.

"[Commentators supporting this] have no sense of human frailty … In this world, there is only good and evil. That world doesn't reflect the actual human condition, where bad impulses exist even in the best of people.

"One doesn't have to be an admirer of Adrian Peterson to understand his is probably the most-excessive punishment in the history of professional sports. I don't think there has ever been anything like it.''