Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was suspended and fined by the NFL after an indictment for child abuse in 2014. He said the league was too harsh on him, and he fought them in court, but an appeals court ruled against him on Thursday.
The league suspended Peterson for six games in 2014 because of the child abuse indictment. The NFL Players Association tried to argue on Peterson’s behalf, saying he should’ve only gotten a two-game suspension since that was the practice at the time the alleged child abuse took place: Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was caught on tape assaulting his fiancée, and was suspended only two games.
An arbitrator ruled on behalf of the NFL and upheld a fine equal to six games’ pay, so Peterson and the NFLPA took the issue to federal court, where a judge ruled that the arbitrator misused his authority.
But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit overturned that decision, saying it’s not for the court to interfere with a collective bargaining agreement
“So long as the arbitrator ‘is even arguably construing or applying the contract and acting within the scope of his authority,’ the arbitral decision must stand,” wrote Judge Steven Colloton, citing case law.
You can read the opinion here.
Peterson didn’t serve jail time for the misdemeanor charge of reckless assault. He pleaded no contest, and still plays with the Vikings.
[h/t Sports Illustrated]
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