Ray Rice's reinstatement to the NFL might give a glimmer of hope to Adrian Peterson, but their appeals have differences.
Rice's indefinite suspension from the NFL was overturned on Friday by U.S. Judge Barbara Jones, who was an independent arbitrator in the dispute between the league and the NFL Players Association. Jones ruled Rice, who originally was suspended for two games for domestic violence, was then given an "arbitrary" indefinite suspension in violation of the league's collective bargaining agreement with players.
Peterson's appeal — Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended the Vikings running back until at least April 15 — will be heard Tuesday. Goodell appointed NFL Executive Vice President for Labor Relations Harold Henderson as arbitrator, and the NFLPA wasn't happy that Peterson didn't get a "neutral" arbitrator, as it claimed Rice did. Goodell testified in the Rice case, which is why he appointed a non-NFL arbitrator.
At the crux of Peterson's complaint is his belief that the NFL told him he would get credit for "time served" after sitting out nine games with pay on the Commissioner's Exempt List following a felony charge for disciplining one of his children. The 2012 NFL MVP pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault on Nov. 4 and was suspended by Goodell on Nov. 18.
Two issues raised in the Rice case could apply in Peterson's appeal. First, Jones called Goodell's second suspension of Rice "arbitrary," a word the NFLPA has used to describe Goodell's suspension of Peterson. Also, Jones said Goodell assured Rice he would not be penalized retroactively under a new domestic abuse policy that would have called for a six-game suspension. The commissioner has vowed to crack down on off-the-field issues, but the NFLPA believes such penalties must be bargained.
"Since Adrian's legal matter was adjudicated, the NFL has ignored their obligations and attempted to impose a new and arbitrary disciplinary proceeding," the NFLPA wrote in announcing Peterson's appeal.
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