The fallout with Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is that he will remain suspended until April 2015 for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell imposed the suspension on November 18th, 2014, and Peterson’s appeal for his suspension was denied Friday.
Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges on September 12, 2014. And when subsequent photos showed his son’s beating wounds, further outrage was added to the incident.
So how does Peterson feel about the course of events surrounding his case?
He feels that the process has been unfair to him, to say the least.
In an a new report by ESPN’s Ben Goessling, Peterson was quoted as saying,
“I feel like they’re handling the situation absolutely wrong,” he said. “I think I’ve been made an example out of. It kind of baffles me how -- I have nothing but love for Ray Rice, I’m happy he has the chance to play. But it’s like, how did Ray Rice get reinstated before me, a team has a chance to pick him up, but I don’t have the opportunity to come back until April. When has that happened in any other case in the NFL, ever?”
In the same report, Peterson told Goessling that he is considering retirement, and fully intends to appeal the case in Federal Court.
And on his prospects after football specifically?
Peterson says, “...I’ve thought about getting back into the real estate (business in Texas) I’m already in. That’s something I’ve been interested in, something I’m involved in. I’ve thought about getting back into that. I’ve thought about going after the Olympics -- you only live once. It might be time for me to pursue that, as well. I love playing football, don’t get me wrong, but this situation is deeper than that. For me, it’s like, ‘Why should I continue to be a part of an organization or a business that handles players the way they do? Making money off the field anyway, why not continue to pursue that (Olympic) dream and pursue other dreams and hang up the cleats?’”
It if should pursue his Olympic dream, the runs Adrian Peterson would partake in are the 200 and 400 meter dashes.
If you’re curious about the feasibility of Peterson’s Olympic prospects, Goessling notes that Peterson’s personal bests in the 200- and 400-meter dashes are 21.23 seconds and 47.6 seconds, while automatic qualifying standards for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2012 were 20.55 in the 200 and 45.3 in the 400.
One should note that the idea of Peterson making an Olympic run is unlikely. Though if he does remain in the NFL, he will be 30 years old by the time his suspension is lifted. The year 30 is a big milestone for NFL running backs as the age where running backs are generally considered expired and no longer effective.
