Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian PetersonCharlie Neibergall/The Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson met Tuesday with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding his reinstatement, eight days before the expected expiration of the suspension that was invoked last season under the personal conduct policy.
The meeting at league headquarters in New York lasted about an hour and a half, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, because of the sensitivity of the information.
The meeting, which included other representatives from each side, was the first time Peterson and Goodell spoke, either in person or on the phone, since the child abuse case involving Peterson's young son arose last September.
Shortly after the plea deal Peterson and his attorneys struck with the Texas court in November to reduce the charge from a felony to a misdemeanour, Goodell suspended Peterson for the remaining six games of the season through at least April 15.
Peterson's appeal was denied by arbitrator Harold Henderson, but the NFL Players Association took the fight to court and U.S. District Judge David Doty ruled in February that Henderson's decision must be voided and thus sent back to the arbitration process.
In appealing Doty's decision, the NFL tabled Peterson's suspension and placed him on the special exempt list where he spent much of the 2014 season while the child abuse case played out.
The league's appeal to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis was established with a briefing schedule calling for a hearing sometime in June, with the NFL's first written arguments due by Wednesday.
Once Peterson's playing status is clarified, there's still the glaring matter of his disinterest in continuing his career in Minnesota.
Peterson's agent, Ben Dogra, said two weeks ago that the 30-year-old Peterson wants to play elsewhere, but the Vikings have said repeatedly they want Peterson back and have no plan to trade him. Peterson's contract calls for a $12.75-million salary this season and doesn't expire for another three years.