Roger Goodell will not hear Adrian Peterson's appeal
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has appointed Harold Henderson to hear the appeal of Adrian Peterson's season-long suspension, the league announced Friday. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports first reported the news.
The hearing date for the appeal has been set for Dec. 2.
The NFL Players Association filed the appeal on Peterson's behalf. The NFLPA is appealing on the grounds that the NFL did not act in accordance with due process under the league's collective bargaining agreement.
The NFLPA had requested that a neutral arbitrator rule on Peterson's appeal, but the CBA stipulates that commissioner Roger Goodell typically handles such appeals.
• NFLPA's DeMaurice Smith: Discipline process 'unfair and arbitrary'
Henderson once served as the league's executive vice president for labor relations and was also appointed to handle Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon's "second-hand smoke" case.
The NFLPA later responded to the news that Henderson had been appointed to hear the appeal.
"A long-time NFL Executive and current legal consultant cannot, by definition, be a neutral arbitrator," the NFLPA said.
On Tuesday night, an arbitrator ruled that the NFL can keep Peterson on the Commissioner's Exempt list even during an appeal process.
Peterson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, said he's "amazed" at the way the NFL has been "making these things up as they go along" regarding their treatment of both Peterson and Ray Rice, who is currently appealing an indefinite suspension.
• Adrian Peterson says he'll 'never use a switch again'
Peterson was indicted on felony charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child in September. On Nov. 4, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault after authorities said he hit his 4-year old son with a switch. He was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and perform 80 hours of community service.
The Vikings reportedly have no plans to trade or release Peterson and will re-evaluate his future with the team after this season.
- Chris Johnson
