NFL Players Assn. files contempt motion against Roger Goodell, NFL

The NFL Players Assn. announced Tuesday it has filed a motion to hold Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL in contempt for not making a disciplinary ruling on Adrian Peterson that is consistent with the league’s personal conduct policy.

In February, U.S. District Court Judge David Doty ordered the NFL to change its decision to suspend Peterson indefinitely. The NFLPA contends Goodell and the league have ignored Doty’s decision.

“The Commissioner and NFL have deliberately ignored both the court’s decision from 11 weeks ago and our repeated requests to comply with that order,” NFLPA President Eric Winston said in a statement. “On February 26th, the NFL was ordered to change their decision in the Peterson matter and reissue a ruling consistent with our collective bargaining agreement. The union made multiple requests to the league office asking the arbitrator, who serves at the direction of the commissioner, to comply with the law and avoid further litigation. Despite our attempts, they have done nothing and leave us no choice but to seek this motion.

“The delay tactics, inconsistencies and arbitrary decision making of the league has continued to hurt the rights of players, the credibility of the league office and the integrity of the collective bargaining agreement. In the absence of any action by the NFL’s governing board of owners, the players have acted to hold the NFL accountable to our players, the CBA and to the law.”

The NFL reinstated Peterson on April 16. He was suspended indefinitely Nov. 18 after he pleaded no-contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault for allegedly hitting his 4-year-old son.

Doty overturned NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson’s denial of Peterson’s appeal, ordering the NFL to make a decision on Peterson that was consistent with the league’s personal conduct policy under the collective bargaining agreement. The NFL is appealing Doty’s decision.