NFLPA files motion to hold Roger Goodell in contempt of court over Peterson case
The NFLPA has filed a motion in federal court to hold commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL in contempt of court for refusing to comply with an order to resolve the Adrian Peterson ruling in a manner consistent with the collective bargaining agreement.
The heart of the matter is that although Peterson was reinstated, his official punishment has not been lessened, despite the court ordering the league to do so.
The NFLPA released a statement Tuesday, laying out its charges against the league and the commissioner:
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.
In February, U.S. District Judge David Doty wrote in a 16-page decision that the neutral arbitrator, Harold Henderson, who upheld Peterson's suspension, "strayed beyond the issues submitted by the NFLPA and in doing so exceeded his authority,"
The players' union argued that Peterson's punishment was handed down retroactively under the rules of the newly outlined personal conduct policy. The court agreed, and Doty ruled that Peterson's indefinite suspension should not have been levied in keeping with the new policy.
"Moreover," Doty wrote, "Henderson's conclusion that the New Policy is consistent with the previous Policy is contradicted by the Commissioner's own statements in which he acknowledged that the New Policy included 'changes' to the Policy."
The NFL released a statement following the decision stating that it disagreed with Doty's assessment and would be appealing.
In addition, the league responded to the union's legal action with a statement:
There is no basis for the union’s action. The district court's decision on Adrian Peterson is on appeal to the Eighth Circuit. In the meantime, Mr. Peterson was reinstated more than a month ago and he may fully participate in team activities. The remaining disciplinary issue concerns the amount of 2014 pay to be forfeited by Mr. Peterson and that issue is presently before the Court of Appeals.