Peterson plea deal...

[denburch]

This sums it up.

I think the NFL is extremely unlikely to reinstate Peterson this season. It's taken way too many recent black eyes and the last thing the NFL can afford is even the suggestion that it doesn't take these things seriously.

And even if the league were to OK it, the Wilfs and the Vikings would then have to weigh the local impact and whether they could survive any backlash that might come from sponsors and local media. While a lot of hardcore Vikings fans might find a way to be OK with AD back on the field, a lot of other people less focused on the team might not care to see that, and they could create a lot of negative noise about it.

So I just don't see it, not from the league or the Vikings, at least not this year.

And quite honestly, that might not be such a bad thing for the long-term development of the offense. Look at it this way - without AD back there as a tackle-breaking crutch, the offensive line has to learn how to functionally pass block as a unit. Bridgewater has to learn how to play the role of an actual pro QB versus a guy who hands it off to AD and looks for "safe" short and medium routes in the passing game. And the team has to find a way to create more big plays the way most pro offenses have to do it - via the pass, so this forces the offense to evolve and the players within it to become more well-rounded and capable of doing it over the longer term.

If AD does sit the rest of this season and the Vikings continue to win, he's almost certainly never going to suit up in Purple again unless he's willing to take a massive pay cut. I don't know if Goodell will factor that into his decision or not (my guess is not), but that fact is likely to be the only reason the Wilfs might attempt to brave the storm of public criticism and put AD back on the field if the NFL clears him. They are still paying him, and this would be a tragic end to an otherwise great career as a Viking.

I honestly don't think the NFLPA will sit still for them not re-activating Peterson this season. When it comes down to it, he has missed 8 games for a misdemeanor. I think "taking your time" on the decision is a good PR move, but I would be very surprised if he doesn't return this year.

[The Breeze]

I honestly don't think the NFLPA will sit still for them not re-activating Peterson this season. When it comes down to it, he has missed 8 games for a misdemeanor. I think "taking your time" on the decision is a good PR move, but I would be very surprised if he doesn't return this year.

I agree. There are many interests at stake here and because of the proximity in timing to all the other crap in the NFL, it's a situation that pits all the different elements into one decision.

Crazy to think he might get more punishment than Ray Lewis, for example.

[dead_poet]

Look at it this way - without AD back there as a tackle-breaking crutch

That's one way of looking at him. The other is a recent league MVP and one of the greatest football players in the National Football League.

Just like taking Patterson off of kick return duty, on the merits of ability only (off-field issues excluded), keeping AD off the field is doing the opposing defense a favor.

the offensive line has to learn how to functionally pass block as a unit.

That should be a priority no matter who the quarterback or running back is. If an offensive lineman is somehow not giving 100% on each play based upon whose lining up behind him he should be benched. I doubt this factors in to their mindset when the ball is snapped.

Bridgewater has to learn how to play the role of an actual pro QB versus a guy who hands it off to AD and looks for "safe" short and medium routes in the passing game.

Same as the offensive linemen. Bridgewater has to execute the play call no matter who is behind him. If the focal point of the offense shifts a bit more to the ground game (because it's more successful on a per-play basis) then so be it. There's no way of telling that Teddy's average depth of target would shrink based on AD being on the field. If anything it could rise based on AD helping the team get into second and third-and-short situations with Teddy taking more shots down the field.

And the team has to find a way to create more big plays the way most pro offenses have to do it - via the pass,

By their nature most "big plays" come from the pass, but that's not the only way they happen. How many runs of 20+ yards have we seen and, really, what difference does it make how the "big plays" happen (run, pass, special teams) as long as they do?

so this forces the offense to evolve and the players within it to become more well-rounded and capable of doing it over the longer term.

I disagree. Players should improve individually and collectively with no bearing on who the QB or RB is.

[dead_poet]

@TomPelissero -- NFL has informed Adrian Peterson his case will be reviewed for discipline and he has opportunity for a hearing before it's handed down.

[dead_poet]

@AdamSchefter -- It is "highly unlikely" that anything with Adrian Peterson will be resolved until next week, at the earliest, per sources.

[mondry]

LETS GO NFL, VIKINGS, LET THE MAN WORK FOR HIS PAYCHECK!

[TSonn]

The thing I keep getting caught up in is that without the details and/or the release (illegal leak?) of the photographs, and take away the other unrelated events (Ray Rice) surrounding this case, this is a first-time misdemeanor that has caused a player to miss 8 games. Don't get me wrong - details are important, but the court system used all the details and established that what occurred was a misdemeanor offense.

If the NFL/Vikes don't act quickly, you'd have to believe that AD would be able to get his legal team ready to do something to the NFL. I guess, at the very least, it seems like public opinion will start swaying in AD's favor the longer the NFL takes to make a decision.

Is there an easy way to find a list of current players who have received misdemeanor offenses and the sanctions/consequences each of them faced?

[chicagopurple]

dont bet on any public opinion swaying in favor of a nearly 300 lb man who tore open a 5 year old boys scrotum, There arent that many fools in America...yet.

[TSonn]

dont bet on any public opinion swaying in favor of a nearly 300 lb man who tore open a 5 year old boys scrotum, There arent that many fools in America...yet.

A survey on ProFootballTalk actually indicates that people want to see him on the field again (75/25). Also, your details are way off (300 pounds vs. 215 pounds/5 year old vs. 4 year old). When you make up things to make them worse than they are they will seem much worse than they are.

Edited to take out some of my sass.

[Boon]

Someone find me ray rice's mug shot, I can't seem to find it. But they have Ray McDonald, Peterson, Jerome Simpson and Aldon Smith. I find this very strange

[dead_poet]

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports Adrian Peterson's paid leave is "not considered discipline" by the NFL, and that a suspension "looms."

[PacificNorseWest]

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports Adrian Peterson's paid leave is "not considered discipline" by the NFL, and that a suspension "looms."

Kinda dumb. Not playing is not playing. I get if they want to fine him for game checks received during his time out, but tacking on more games is poor.

Yes, I'm bitter.

[PurpleMustReign]

dont bet on any public opinion swaying in favor of a nearly 300 lb man who tore open a 5 year old boys scrotum, There arent that many fools in America...yet.

Just because you have a troll like opinion doesnt mean many others do. And way to over exaggate the situation. Does that give you warm fuzzies when you do that?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[mondry]

Kinda dumb. Not playing is not playing. I get if they want to fine him for game checks received during his time out, but tacking on more games is poor.

Yes, I'm bitter.

Yeah, maybe it's only a 1 game suspension though! (hey they didn't say how long!) Not holding my breath though

[Mothman]

Kinda dumb. Not playing is not playing. I get if they want to fine him for game checks received during his time out, but tacking on more games is poor.

Yes, I'm bitter.

I hear you... tacking on more games would be patently unfair and rather transparent political posturing by the NFL. The league should consider the 8 games missed as time served, determine the length of a suspension as punishment and then take the equivalent amount in game checks (ie: 6 game suspension = 6 game checks). This wasn't an offense that should draw an 8 game suspension and it certainly shouldn't require Peterson to miss more games. Now, if the Vikes decide they don't want him, that would be a different story but from the NFL's point of view, unless the court documents reveal something previously undisclosed that deserves a more substantial punishment, this should be as simple as determining a fine.