Adrian Peterson praises judge's decision, makes no mention of Vikings
One day after winning a victory over the NFL in federal court, Adrian Peterson released a statement Friday praising Judge David S. Doty's decision and thanking his representatives.
But Peterson said nothing about his future with the Minnesota Vikings.
Doty vacated the arbitration award that upheld Peterson's suspension by the league in December. The NFL announced Thursday that Peterson will return to the commissioner's exempt list while the league appeals the decision and proceedings resume before appeals officer Harold Henderson.
"I was pleased to learn about Judge Doty's decision," Peterson's statement said. "It is a positive step in protecting players' rights and preserving due process for all players. It also brings me one step closer to getting back on the football field and playing the sport I love.
"As I prepare for my return to football, I am still focused on my family and continue to work to become a better father every day. I want to express my gratitude for all of the support I have received from the fans, NFLPA, Jeffrey Kessler, and my agents Ben Dogra, Tracy Lartigue, and Mark Heligman from Relativity Sports."
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Peterson, 29, spent most of the 2014 season on the exempt list following his September indictment for injuring his 4-year-old son while disciplining him with a wooden switch at a time the NFL was facing widespread public criticism over its handling of domestic violence.
The 2012 NFL MVP, Peterson pled no-contest in November to a reduced misdemeanor charge, avoiding jail time.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for the rest of the 2014 season with reinstatement no sooner than April 15, 2015.
The Vikings have made several recent public statements that they want Peterson to return to the team. But Peterson has expressed reservations since November about returning to Minnesota.
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