Adrian Peterson's lawsuit expected to be filed Monday
The NFL Players Association plans to file a lawsuit against the league Monday in federal court in Minnesota on behalf of banished Vikings star Adrian Peterson, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Among other things, the lawsuit will challenge the impartiality of arbitrator Harold Henderson, who upheld the NFL's suspension of Peterson with reinstatement no sooner than April 15, 2015, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it had not yet been filed.
Peterson, 29, pled no contest last month to a misdemeanor reckless assault charge for injuring his 4-year-old son in May while disciplining the boy with a wooden switch.
Calling it "arguably one of the most egregious cases of domestic violence" in NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's nine-year tenure, Henderson – who spent roughly two decades working in the league office – upheld Peterson's suspension Friday.
"The NFLPA expected this outcome, given the hearing officer's relationship and financial ties to the NFL," the union's statement read. "The decision itself ignores the facts, the evidence and the collective bargaining agreement. This decision also represents the NFL's repeated failure to adhere to due process and confirms its inconsistent treatment of players. Our union is considering immediate legal remedies."
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The 2012 NFL MVP, Peterson hasn't played since the season opener, spending most of the season on paid leave. Based on a 2014 base salary of $11.75 million, the loss of six game checks will cost Peterson about $4.147 million.
The union had argued in last week's two-day appeal hearing that Peterson was punished retroactively under changes Goodell made to the personal conduct policy in August and subjected to a new and obfuscated disciplinary process.
Henderson rejected those arguments Friday, while also echoing Goodell's letter that Peterson's "public comments do not reflect remorse or appreciation for the seriousness of his actions and their impact on his family, community, fans and the NFL, although at the close of the hearing he said he has learned from his mistake, he regrets that it happened and it will never happen again."
In a Nov. 20 interview with USA TODAY Sports, Peterson said he'd never use a switch again and had recently reconnected with his son, who is one of his six children.
"I love my son. I love my kids, my family," Peterson said. "Like I said after I took the misdemeanor plea, I take full responsibility for my actions. I regret the situation. I love my son more than any one of you could even imagine."