Adrian Peterson remains suspended over child abuse charges, having lost an appeal for reinstatement. However, new evidence has surfaced that seems to bolster Peterson's claim that he was promised one degree of punishment and served another.
ABC News has obtained audio of a call between Peterson and NFL executive vice-president of operations Troy Vincent, recorded Nov. 12, in which Vincent seemed to promise a two-game suspension. Instead, Peterson was suspended indefinitely.
"Two additional games, not time served?" Peterson asks on the recording.
"No, no, no," Vincent replies. "It's just the one this weekend. So really, it's just next week and you ... you're rolling. You're back."
Six days after this recording, made in the offices of Peterson's attorneys while Vincent was on a speakerphone, the NFL handed down its suspension. At issue: a meeting on Nov. 14 which Peterson skipped since his attorneys claimed it was not a mandatory one. But Vincent seems to imply that Peterson needed to toe the line in every way in order to get the two-game suspension.
"So, two games?" Peterson asks at another point.
"Yeah," Vincent replies, "but you cannot ... you've got to go through the process."
According to the AP, Peterson also appealed directly to Vincent, saying that he had already lost more than half the season and $4 million in endorsements. Vincent replied by encouraging Peterson to meet with Goodell to keep him apprised of his progress.
At another point in the tape, Vincent appears to side with Peterson, offering him both support and hope: "I gave you my word the other day. I think we looked at each other, and in my heart i'm praying that we can just get your family restored and get you back on this field so you can continue to be the ballplauyer the citizen the husband the father that God has called you to be ... You've paid the price. And I think everybody understands that."
However, at Peterson's appeal hearing, Vincent denied making any promises, insisting that Peterson needed to "show up." Harold Henderson, the arbitrator appointed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, agreed with the NFL's assessment, and according to ABC, indicated that Vincent was trying to help Peterson without making explicit promises.
Peterson's lawyers entered the audio in question into evidence at the appeal, apparently seeking to demonstrate that the NFL's words to Peterson were far removed from its actions afterward ... and from its words at the hearing. However, Henderson's office told ABC that there was insufficient information to conclude that the NFL's indefinite suspension was in response to Peterson skipping the Nov. 14 meeting. In announcing Peterson's indefinite suspension, Goodell made sure to indicate that Peterson had shown "no meaningful remorse" in the wake of the child abuse allegations and initial suspension.
The NFL Players' Association is expected to file a claim in federal court on Peterson's behalf very soon, possibly as early as Monday. As ABC noted, the claim needs to prove misconduct on the part of the arbitrator, which is a high bar to clear in order for Peterson to return to the league.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.
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