NFL players’ union seeks to work with league to change conduct policy

The NFL players’ union wants to negotiate with the league in changing the personal conduct policy.

In a memo sent to each NFLPA player representative and executive board member, and obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday, the union cites the NFL’s “mismanagement” of several incidents, including the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson cases.

The memo contends the league has “inconsistencies that have led to the lack of credibility and damage to our brand.”

The union says the league has not complied with the labor agreement reached in 2011 in regard to personal conduct discipline.

The memo mentions “imposed superficial changes to the adjudication process,” apparently referring to Commissioner Roger Goodell installing stronger punishment for first-time offenders of the policy.

An NFL spokesman noted in an email to the Associated Press that “the personal conduct policy and its predecessors have been in place since 1997. They have never been the subject of collective bargaining and the union has never before claimed that they should be. The union knows this, which is why it has made no proposals on the personal conduct policy.”

Adrian Peterson hearing is set

Adrian Peterson will have a hearing via conference call on Monday about possible reinstatement with the Minnesota Vikings.

The hearing will be handled by Shyam Das, an arbiter used by the NFL and NFLPA under the collective bargaining agreement reached in 2011.

Through the players’ union, Peterson entered a non-injury grievance regarding when his paid leave on the commissioner’s exempt list is supposed to end. Lawyers representing the union and the NFL will discuss the grievance.

Peterson has been on that list since Sept. 18 following his indictment for felony child abuse in Texas. The running back pleaded no contest last week to a lesser charge of misdemeanor reckless assault, freeing him from the court system provided he fulfills his probation terms.

Texans’ Foster misses practice again with injury

Houston running back Arian Foster missed practice for the second straight day Thursday with a groin injury.

Foster, who is second in the NFL with 822 yards rushing, was injured Nov. 2 against the Eagles before Houston’s bye week.

Coach Bill O’Brien isn’t sure whether Foster will be able to play Sunday at Cleveland and says: “That’s definitely going to be a game-time decision.”

Chargers’ Addae returns after concussion

Chargers safety Jahleel Addae has been cleared to return to practice three weeks after suffering a concussion in a loss at Denver.

Addae rejoined the team on the practice field Thursday.

Addae had two scary reactions after hits in a 35-21 loss at Denver on Oct. 23. The team said that night he had a stinger. Addae was diagnosed with a concussion the following afternoon.