NFL: Redskins' Peterson vows to kneel during national anthem

Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson said he will kneel during the national anthem this season to protest racial injustice, and he doesn't plan to be the only player to do so.

Peterson made his feelings known to the Houston Chronicle in the aftermath of the comments made by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who said that players were "disrespecting the flag" by kneeling during the anthem. Brees later apologized for his comments.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick protested racial injustice in the United States by kneeling during the anthem in the 2016 season. Kaepernick has yet to sign with an NFL team since opting out of his contract with the 49ers in 2017.

"Years ago, seeing Kaepernick taking a knee, now we're all ready to take a knee together going into this season without a doubt," Peterson said.

When asked by the Houston Chronicle if he will take a knee, Peterson replied: "Without a doubt, without a doubt."

The NFL adopted a policy in 2018 that required players to stand for the national anthem, but allowed them to stay in the locker room during it if they chose. The league has since pulled the policy back after an agreement with the NFL Players Association.

Peterson, who played 10 seasons (2007-16) with the Minnesota Vikings, contends that more players will be taking a knee this season following national protests over the death of George Floyd, an African-American man who died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

"We've got to put the effort in as a group collectively. Are they going to try to punish us all? If not, playing football is going to help us save lives and change things, then that's what it needs to be," Peterson told the newspaper.

Peterson, 35, is currently fifth on the all-time rushing list with 14,216 yards.

Peterson was a team captain and led Washington in attempts (211), rushing yards (898) and rushing touchdowns (5) last season.

Peterson has played in 164 career games. He currently ranks No. 8 in rushing attempts (3,036), No. 4 in rushing touchdowns (111) and No. 8 in yards per game (86.7) in NFL history.

Next up on the rushing list would be Barry Sanders, who is 1,053 yards ahead of Peterson and fourth on the all-time rushing list.

Peterson is 12 rushing touchdowns behind Marcus Allen for third all-time.

-reuters-

NFL suspends Vikings' Peterson over 'abusive discipline' of son

WASHINGTON - Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson was suspended by the National Football League without pay for at least the remainder of the 2014 season on Tuesday for committing an "incident of abusive discipline" on his 4-year-old son.

The action taken by Commissioner Roger Goodell against one of the NFL's marquee performers comes as America's most popular sports league struggles to contain a scandal sparked by domestic violence incidents involving several players.

The NFL players union quickly condemned Goodell's action as "inconsistent," "arbitrary" and evidence of a "credibility gap" for the league. It said it will appeal the suspension and demand that a neutral arbitrator oversee the matter.

An independent arbitrator heard the case of Ray Rice, who Goodell suspended from the league indefinitely after a video showed the former Baltimore Ravens star knocking his fiancée unconscious in an elevator.

Peterson, 29, pleaded no contest in Conroe, Texas this month to a misdemeanor assault charge and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and perform community service.

Images showing Peterson's son with cuts and bruises all over his body including his buttocks and genitals provoked outrage that tarnished the reputation of one of the most productive running backs of his generation and added to the league's public relations nightmare.

In a sharply worded letter to Peterson, Goodell said the Vikings star had "shown no meaningful remorse" for his conduct, noting that a Texas grand jury concluded Peterson had "overstepped the bounds of acceptable corporal punishment and engaged in physical abuse of your child."

"While an adult may have a number of options when confronted with abuse - to flee, to fight back or to seek help from law enforcement - none of those options is realistically available to a 4-year-old child," Goodell wrote.

Peterson will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15 for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, the league said. He was arrested in September on a felony child abuse charge for disciplining his son by repeatedly striking him with a thin tree branch called a switch.

Goodell said Peterson must undergo intensive counseling and treatment before being considered for reinstatement. An NFL statement called Peterson's action an "incident of abusive discipline" and warned against any "repetition of this conduct."

Goodell wrote that "the injury inflicted on your son includes the emotional and psychological trauma to a young child who suffers criminal physical abuse at the hands of his father." Goodell added that "the repetitive use of a switch in this instance is the functional equivalent of a weapon, particularly in the hands of someone with the strength of an accomplished professional athlete."

The union said Peterson was told that after his legal case was resolved he would be allowed to play again. Goodell disputed that, saying Peterson was always subject to NFL discipline regardless of the outcome of his legal case.

Peterson played in the season's first game before being placed on Goodell's "exempt" list, keeping him off the field but allowing him to draw his $11.75 million salary.

(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Will Dunham)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

NFL to review Adrian Peterson case for 'potential discipline'

The National Football League said on Thursday it would review for "potential discipline" Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, following his plea agreement on child abuse charges.

While it studies the case under its Personal Conduct Policy, the NFL said Peterson would remain on its Exempt List, meaning he will not play but receive his full $11.75 million salary.

Peterson, 29, reached a plea deal on Tuesday to charges of abusing his 4-year-old son that would see the former NFL Most Valuable Player avoid jail time.

He was arrested in September for hitting his son with a switch, or thin three branch, as a form of discipline. The switch caused welts over parts of the child's body.

The six-time Pro Bowl running back has taken responsibility for his actions, saying he loves his son and was handing out the same type of discipline he received as a youth.

Peterson pleaded no contest in a Conroe, Texas, courtroom to a misdemeanor assault charge and must pay a $4,000 fine and perform community service.

"The NFL advised Adrian Peterson this afternoon that following his plea agreement to resolve his criminal case in Texas his matter will now be reviewed for potential discipline under the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy," the NFL said in a statement.

The NFL has been under fire for what was widely viewed as a soft stance on domestic abuse and recently strengthened its sanctions against such crimes.

Peterson can request a hearing prior to the NFL issuing any sanctions, according to the league statement.

The NFL said it requested that Peterson "submit relevant information regarding his case and meet with designated experts," who will make recommendations on possible discipline to Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Peterson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told Reuters through a spokeswoman on Thursday that he "welcomes the NFL taking a thorough, and hopefully expeditious, look at this matter."

In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Hardin said Peterson, who has played in only one game this year, was ready to get back on the field and should not receive additional sanctions.

The Vikings absorbed heavy criticism for holding Peterson out for only one game until one of its sponsors, hotel chain Radisson, suspended its contract with the team.

Peterson was ultimately placed on the Exempt List, along with several other players implicated in domestic abuse or sexual assault. (Reporting by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

NFL teams bow to pressure on domestic abuse cases

 Another National Football League player was arrested on domestic violence allegations hours after two teams succumbed to public pressure and suspended players enmeshed in similar cases on Wednesday.

The charges against Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer of aggravated assault in connection with two alleged incidents of domestic violence in late July come amid intensifying criticism from corporate sponsors and politicians toward America's top sports league.

Earlier on Wednesday, Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson and Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy were both placed by their teams on the so-called "exempt list," meaning they must take a leave of absence while the cases against them are resolved.

In announcing their actions, officials of both the Vikings and the Panthers talked about the need "to get this right."

The two teams' decisions suggest a new tack by owners toward the domestic violence scandal engulfing the 32-team NFL and its commissioner, Roger Goodell.

A flurry of cases, most notably those of Peterson and Ray Rice, the former Baltimore Ravens star who has also been suspended indefinitely by the NFL, has raised questions about the league's integrity and Goodell's leadership.

On Wednesday the level of criticism ratcheted up with the U.S. House of Representatives Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, speaking up, and moves by two big corporate sponsors - TD Ameritrade and Nike.

Zygi Wilf, who co-owns the Vikings with his brother, Mark, said that they had "made a mistake and we needed to get this right," after they had reactivated Peterson on Monday following his indictment last week on charges of beating his four-year-old son with a branch.

For the Panthers, general manager Dave Gettleman said the team was disappointed in Hardy's behavior. "We have to get this right. He has to get this right," Gettleman said.

Hardy, who was convicted in July of domestic violence, has appealed the verdict. He has a trial date in November.

Regarding Dwyer, the Phoenix Police Department said the incidents involved a 27-year-old woman and an 18-month-old child, but gave few details. In an email, Sergeant Trent Crump said Dwyer "admitted to the incidents, however, denied any physical assaults."

Crump said the 25-year-old player was booked into Maricopa County Jail on one count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, one count of aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault.

"Given the serious nature of the allegations we have taken the immediate step to deactivate Jonathan from all team activities," the Cardinals said in a statement.

The Cardinals said they became aware of the allegations on Wednesday afternoon when they were notified by Phoenix police and they said they are cooperating fully.

Crump said the two incidents were reported to police by neighbors who said they heard fights, and that soon afterward the woman fled the state with her and Dwyer's child, citing safety concerns for herself.

The victim reported her injuries to police on Sept. 11 and said she also received text messages from the player in which he threatened to kill himself, Crump said.

The moves came a day after the NFL was chastised by one of its top sponsors, brewer Anheuser-Busch. But no sponsor has gone so far as to cut its multimillion-dollar ties with the NFL.

Brokerage firm TD Ameritrade, which began a three-year affiliation with the NFL this month, on Wednesday said "it was very much considering its future" as a sponsor.

"We want to see (the NFL) learn from its mistakes and work quickly to improve a culture that values inclusion, safety and respect for its employees, their families and others," TD Ameritrade spokeswoman Kim Hillyer said in an email.

Nike, known for its steadfast support for its athletes even in troubled times, said it had suspended its contract with Peterson, one of the league's most marketable players.

Target Corp on Wednesday said it was removing Peterson merchandise from its retail stores and website in light of team's most recent actions and customer feedback, spokeswoman Molly Snyder said.

POLITICIANS JOIN FRAY

The 29-year-old Peterson, the Vikings' best player, has been accused of reckless or negligent injury to a child stemming from a whipping incident that allegedly left bruises and wounds on his son.

The NFL called his suspension "a good decision."

Goodell has the sole authority to place a player on the exempt list under what the league policy calls "unusual circumstances."

The Vikings will continue to pay the running back his full $11.75 million salary for this season. Team general manager Rick Spielman declined to say whether Peterson would play again this season. If Peterson's case goes to trial it would likely begin in 2015.

Mark Wilf said the franchise did not suspend Peterson in a bow to pressure from team sponsors. Minnesota-based hotel chain Radisson suspended a sponsorship deal with the Vikings on Monday.

The team also came under withering criticism from Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, who said on Tuesday that Peterson was a "public embarrassment" to the team and state and should be suspended.

Goodell and the league are struggling to make amends for his initial lenient punishment of Rice, who punched his then-fiancee, now his wife, in February, knocking her unconscious.

Although Goodell has announced stricter penalties for domestic violence offenders, that has done little to stem the tidal wave of public criticism following the release of surveillance video last week that showed Rice's punch, which the league said it had never seen.

On Wednesday in Washington, top U.S. House Democrat Pelosi said Congress could get involved because the league, which takes in $9 billion in annual revenue, has an anti-trust exemption.

"I think Congress always has a role, but again if you're talking about anti-trust privileges and the rest of that, that certainly is a big issue and it cannot be done except by the Congress," Pelosi said at her weekly news conference in the Capitol, after being peppered with NFL questions.

Goodell has since apologized for the handling of the Rice case. The Pro Bowl running back on Tuesday appealed his indefinite suspension, which came after the video's publication.

With Rice, Peterson and Hardy all suspended, one player accused of domestic violence still remains eligible, San Francisco 49ers' Ray McDonald.

Pelosi, an avid 49ers fan, said McDonald should not have taken the field last week.

(Additional reporting by Steve Ginsburg, Ramkumar Iyer, Jed Horowitz, Richard Cowan and Sam Adams; Editing by Leslie Adler, Eric Walsh, Eric M. Johnson and Matt Driskill)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com