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Roger Goodell Makes Right Move in Suspending Adrian Peterson

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Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings Switch Child Abuse Hearing

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Roger Goodell finally got something right.

After completely botching the Ray Rice situation over the summer and not doing much better with the Adrian Peterson allegations in September, Goodell has been about as quiet as a church mouse the last couple months. We have barely seen Goodell publicly, he has made little to no public comments since the beginning of the year, and he has done absolutely nothing that might draw a hint of public attention towards him.

Until now. Goodell suspended Peterson without pay for at least the remainder of the 2014 season. Goodell’s quotes are strong and stern, stating that Peterson’s strength dwarves that of his four-year-old son, compounded by the use of a switch which Goodell refers to as a weapon. Most interestingly, Goodell tells Peterson that he has shown no meaningful remorse for his conduct. That last point in the most impactful.

The suspension means Peterson will get the full six-game suspension that is put forth in the NFL guidelines for abuse cases, but Goodell leaves the door open to increase that suspension into 2015 if Peterson doesn’t get his act together.

Peterson has largely treated this entire procedure as a joke. He has been smiling and making wisecracks throughout, and clearly Goodell has had enough. The statement made is that NFL will not take lightly to the abusive actions of its employees and punishments will be handed down with authority. Those who don’t take their mistakes seriously will be punished even further.

The NFLPA has appealed the suspension, but I highly doubt any arbitrator is going to side with Peterson in this case. Simply put, Peterson hasn’t been suspended until now. The Commissioner’s Exempt List that Peterson has been on for most of the season is paid leave, and no arbitrator is going to have that count towards a suspension.

This suspension serves as a statement to the rest of the NFL players that although this may not have been handled properly by the league in the past, they will not put themselves in another situation like they did in September with Rice. Goodell has put the league on notice, and the players better listen.

Bill Zimmerman is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.Com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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