The NFL Players Association has announced that it has filed a motion to hold the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell in contempt of court following their handling of the Adrian Peterson case.
The Minnesota Vikings running back was suspended for the majority of the 2014 season after filing a no contest plea of causing reckless or negligent injury to his four-year old son, but was later reinstated by the NFL after US District Court Judge David Doty overturned their decision.
However, the players association has now filed charges against Goodell and the NFL due to their handling of the suspension following Peterson's reinstatement to the league.
It said in a statement: "Today, the players filed a motion in Federal Court in the Adrian Peterson matter because the commissioner and NFL have deliberately ignored both the court's decision from eleven weeks ago and our repeated requests to comply with that order.
"On February 26, 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."
The NFLPA has also demanded that Goodell recuse himself from the role of arbitrator for the suspension hearing of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Simon Sinclair
