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Vikings Place Peterson On Exempt List, Keeping Him Off Team

Vikings Place Peterson On Exempt List, Keeping Him Off Team

By Matt Vensel, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

The Vikings announced early Wednesday morning they have placed Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on the exempt/commissioner’s permission list, which will keep him away from the team while the legal process involving his child abuse case plays out.

Pressure on the Vikings to bench Adrian Peterson mounted Tuesday, and early Wednesday morning the team gave in.

The Vikings announced shortly after midnight they have placed the star running back on the exempt/commissioner’s permission list, which will keep him away from the team while the legal process involving his child abuse case plays out.

The team’s statement indicated it consulted with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The decision was rendered after a flurry of statements — some literal and others figurative — from sponsors of Peterson, the Vikings and the NFL expressing disappointment that the team had reinstated the running back Monday morning.

Peterson’s first court appearance on a felony charge in Texas of injuring one of his children while disciplining the child, is set for Oct. 8, but that’s a preliminary hearing. A trial, if there is one, would be in early 2015, a prosecutor has said.

It now seems, if Peterson can’t play until the case is settled, that a plea agreement is likely.

The 2012 NFL MVP issued a long statement on Monday defending his discipline of children while also admitting he regretted the extent of the use of a switch on the 4-year-old.

Peterson was deactivated by the Vikings on Friday, hours after a warrant was issued in his home state. Peterson was not at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday as the Vikings lost their home opener 30-7 to the New England Patriots. The team’s top decisionmakers decided a day later to welcome Peterson back to the team.

“We believe he deserves to play while the legal process plays out,” General Manager Rick Spielman said at a news conference Monday, which was not attended by Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf.

By early Wednesday morning, however, the Vikings had reconsidered and issued a statement from the Wilfs, which read in part:

“This has been an ongoing and deliberate process since last Friday’s news. In conversations with the NFL over the last two days, the Vikings advised the League of the team’s decision to revisit the situation regarding Adrian Peterson. In response, the League informed the team of the option to place Adrian on the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list, which will require that Adrian remain away from all team activities while allowing him to take care of his personal situation until the legal proceedings are resolved. After giving the situation additional thought, we have decided this is the appropriate course of action for the organization and for Adrian.”

Peterson was back at Winter Park on Tuesday, an off day for players, and was reportedly tailed by a TMZ cameraman as he departed the facility. Also Tuesday, Nike pulled Peterson jerseys off the shelves at its area stories, sponsors distanced themselves from Peterson and Anheuser Busch publicly called for the NFL to get its house in order.

In the short term, the 1-1 Vikings will carry on without their career leading rusher, which did not go so well against the Patriots. With Peterson deactivated, his replacement, Matt Asiata, and the Vikings averaged just 2.8 yards per carry in the loss, though quarterback Matt Cassel’s career-high four interceptions were probably a bigger reason for the lopsided outcome.

“(Peterson’s absence) didn’t affect the team,” head coach Mike Zimmer said after Sunday’s loss. “You know what affected the team? Throwing interceptions, getting a field goal blocked, not tackling well enough, having penalties on defense. That’s what affected the team. The team was fine.”

When pressed, though, Zimmer did acknowledge it’s hard to overcome the loss of your best player.

In the long term, it is fair to wonder if this will be Peterson’s final season with the Vikings.

The six-time Pro Bowler is under contract through 2017, but the salary-cap ramifications of cutting him now would not be debilitating. The Vikings would actually save $12 million on this year’s salary cap and $2.4 million in dead money would carry over to next year’s cap.

If they decided to release Peterson, who is scheduled to make $13 million in salary and workout bonuses in 2015, after the season, they would have no future cap penalties beyond 2015.

For now, Peterson’s suspension leaves the Vikings with three inexperienced running backs in Asiata, Joe Banyard, and rookie Jerick McKinnon. They have 65 career carries combined.

Among the notable free agents at the position are Daniel Thomas, Bernard Scott, Evan Royster, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Rice is also a free agent — though still suspended — but it seems unlikely that the Vikings would swap out one public-relations headache for another.

The organization will get no relief today, when both local and national media will surely swarm Winter Park following Peterson’s suspension. Amid the pounding, Zimmer must figure out how to replace one of the NFL’s best running backs while keeping his Vikings team focused on the 0-2 New Orleans Saints, who are still formidable with quarterback Drew Brees, especially at the Superdome.

The Mike Zimmer era that is still in its infancy, but Sunday’s game could produce a defining moment.

“My dad, when he was coaching me when I was growing up, he said, ‘Tough times don’t last but tough people do,'” Zimmer said Monday. “It’s time to get back to work, put our nose to the grindstone, get on the tape, start focusing on the New Orleans Saints. That’s what we do, we get back to work.”

AFP Photo/Dilip Vishwanat

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Reinstated NFL Star Peterson Says ‘I’m Not A Child Abuser’

Reinstated NFL Star Peterson Says ‘I’m Not A Child Abuser’

Minneapolis (AFP) — Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, reinstated on Monday by the NFL team, declared he was not a child abuser despite charges of injuring his four-year-old son with blows from a switch.

Peterson, who was deactivated from the playing roster for Sunday’s 30-7 home loss to New England, is able to return to practice with plans to play next Sunday at New Orleans.

The Vikings sidelined Peterson last Friday after he was charged in Texas with reckless or negligent injury to a child after using a tree branch to spank his son with blows so hard he still bore the marks days later.

“I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser,” Peterson said in a statement released by the Vikings.

“I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury. No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the harm I caused him. My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong and that’s what I tried to do that day.”

Peterson surrendered himself to Texas authorities early Saturday morning and was released on bail with a trial not expected until next year, after the end of the season.

Later Monday, Peterson’s lawyer Rusty Hardin refuted a report by KHOU-TV in Houston that Peterson is under investigation on allegations he injured another son in June of 2013.

According to the report, Peterson allegedly disciplined the boy for “cussing to a sibling,” resulting in an injury to the four-year-old’s head.

Hardin said in a statement quoted by the Pioneer Press of St. Paul, Minnesota, that the allegation of another investigation “is simply not true.”

“This is not a new allegation, it’s one that is unsubstantiated and was shopped around to authorities in two states over a year ago and nothing came of it,” Hardin said. “An adult witness adamantly insists Adrian did nothing inappropriate with his son. There is no ongoing or new investigation.”

Peterson said Monday that he knew many had strong opinions on the issue of corporal punishment of children and his conduct in particular.

“Regardless of what others think, however, I love my son very much and I will continue to try to become a better father and person,” he said.

– Peterson was hit as a child –

Peterson said he was imposing the same discipline to his son that had been used upon him as a child.

“I have learned a lot and have had to re-evaluate how I discipline my son going forward,” Peterson said. “I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man.

“I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make.”

Peterson said he has met with a psychologist over the matter and had learned there are “other, alternative ways of disciplining a child that may be more appropriate.”

Peterson said his attorney has asked that he not discuss details of the case.

“Nevertheless,” he said, “I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child.”

Peterson said he told a grand jury and two different police interviews without a lawyer that it was never his intention to harm his son.

– Vikings owners vow vigilance –

Before Peterson’s statement, Vikings’ owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, in a statement on the team’s website, defended their decision to let legal matters play out before making any more steps to bench the star rusher.

“We take very seriously any matter that involves the welfare of a child. At this time, however, we believe this is a matter of due process and we should allow the legal system to proceed so we can come to the most effective conclusions and then determine the appropriate course of action.”

Peterson’s scandal hit the world’s richest sports league the same week the league saw an uproar over star rusher Ray Rice, who was fired by the Baltimore Ravens and banned indefinitely by the NFL after a video was released showing him brutally punching the woman who is now his wife in a hotel elevator.

AFP Photo/Dilip Vishwanat

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Chris Kluwe, Vikings Finalize Settlement To Avert Lawsuit

Chris Kluwe, Vikings Finalize Settlement To Avert Lawsuit

By Master Tesfatsion, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings and their outspoken former punter, Chris Kluwe, have settled their differences after a seven-month battle.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Vikings will donate an undisclosed amount to five charities over the next five years to benefit LGBT and anti-hate groups, and will sponsor a fundraiser.
Kluwe said he did not receive any money from the Vikings in the settlement.

“This will help a lot of people that really need that help,” Kluwe said at a Tuesday news conference. “I think the Vikings are committed to making changes. I think they’re committed on this issue in the NFL, and I think it will make a difference over the upcoming year.”

Kluwe, in a January online article at deadspin.com, accused special teams coach Mike Priefer of saying, “We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows.”

The Vikings launched an independent investigation, but did not release the 150-page report when the investigation ended in June; instead, they issued a 29-page summary in which Priefer admitted the statement, saying it was “a joke between three men.”

Kluwe and his attorney, Clayton Halunen, last month threatened a lawsuit to force the release of the entire report. As part of the settlement the report will not be released.

Halunen said he was provided access to the full report with a concern that there was a systematic discrimination in the organization left out of the summary.

“After we had a chance to review it, we found out there was nothing there,” Halunen said. “We’re satisfied with what we’re provided and that there is no issue.”

The Vikings also said they would enhance sensitivity training throughout the organization and will enforce a zero tolerance policy for any discrimination in its club code of conduct. The Vikings also agreed to sponsor a national symposium in Minneapolis involving LGBT leaders and professional athletes this spring.

“What we’re doing now is breaking it up into four different seminars,” said Kevin Warren, Vikings executive vice president of legal affairs. “We’ll have players, coaches, and staff people so that we can make sure that the training that we do is much more focused for that individual group. … We just want to continually enhance what we’ve already been doing to improve what we’ve already been doing to make sure we’re doing the proper training to help educate our organization.”

Priefer will be suspended for the first three games of the regular season, which could be reduced to two games at the team’s discretion if he completes sensitivity training.

“We appreciate Chris Kluwe’s contributions to the Minnesota Vikings as a player and a member of this organization during his eight seasons in which he established many team records as our punter, and we wish him and his family the best in the future,” Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said in a statement. “In regards to this matter, our focus remains on maintaining a culture of tolerance, inclusion and respect, and creating the best workplace environment for our players, coaches, and staff.”

Kluwe said Priefer made the statement late in the 2012 season, and Kluwe was cut before the 2013 season. He briefly latched on with Oakland, which cut him before the regular season started.

After not playing in the NFL in 2013, he wrote the deadspin.com piece in January.

He has also written a book, “Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies.”

Photo via WikiCommons

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Teddy Bridgewater Receives Rave Reviews From Norv Turner

Teddy Bridgewater Receives Rave Reviews From Norv Turner

By Mark Craig, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Norv Turner clicked the play button on his big-screen TV remote control and 40 years of coaching experience came rushing out of him. A reporter who trails his expertise by 40 years sat nearby listening, learning, and wondering how hard it must be to reach a point where the chaos of an NFL play not only makes perfect sense but can be visualized before the ball is even snapped.

Sometimes, Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater wonders the same thing. Like when the ball is snapped during practice and he can hear Turner, the offensive coordinator, talking to himself.

“As soon as we line up, he’s standing behind us mumbling,” Bridgewater said. “You can’t hear him, but you know he’s telling you where to go with the ball, what to do with the protection. He sees things before they happen.

“You drop back to pass and he’s still mumbling. But you don’t pay attention because of everything going on. You try to block him out, but one of these days I’m going to actually figure out what he’s mumbling about.”

That’s the idea. And Turner believes it will happen sooner rather than later. Otherwise, the Vikings wouldn’t have traded back into the first round of the NFL draft to select Bridgewater 32nd overall.

The Star Tribune sat down with Turner earlier this offseason to watch practice tapes of Bridgewater. Here are some of the highlights that help explain why Bridgewater is a Viking:
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Quick release, quick mind

“Look at this one,” Turner says. “The tight end is running an 18-yard out. Teddy drops. One, two, three, four, five, and, bam, the ball’s out. See how quick that was. This is the No.1 thing with him. He’s got such a quick release, and he makes quick decisions. That ball is out before the tight end makes his cut, and it’s thrown where only he can catch it.

“This helps every guy on the team. It helps the receivers and it obviously helps the linemen when you get back and get rid of the ball.”
___

Sensing defenders

A receiver is running a deep post. Bridgewater, according to Turner, originally was supposed to throw the ball about 4 yards deeper and more inside. But he accurately senses the need to “put it on the receiver,” per Turner’s coaching, rather than lead the receiver into two lurking defenders.
___

Later, on a slant pass, Bridgewater “puts it on” a receiver again.

“This shows Teddy’s presence and then, bang, his quickness to get it out,” Turner said. “And he’s not as quick now as he’s going to be. His feet aren’t good here. He’s too slow with his feet, but he’s quick with his arm. When a guy is naturally quick, you can speed that up with coaching.”
___

Tight pocket? No problem
A short option route is called on third-and-3. The pocket collapses and Bridgewater has no room to step into his throw.

“But see here, he doesn’t have to move his feet to throw it well,” Turner said. “You have to be able to play that way. There are guys who need a lot of room in the pocket to throw, and then there are guys who don’t need any room. I call this an NFL throw, as opposed to a college throw. You can bring 100 guys in here and every one of them could make a college throw.”
___

Arm strength

“People question Teddy’s arm strength,” Turner said as he clicked to the next play, a deep ball. “But right here, we have a ‘9’ route against man. He’s standing on his 15. And the ball is caught is caught at the 34, 35 yard line. So it’s a 47-yard throw.

“The ‘9’ routes, you don’t really want to throw it a lot farther. The quicker you get it up, the better the ‘X’ receiver has of catching it. Balls thrown 55, 58 yards, the DB actually has more time to close.”

Turner preaches trajectory, arc and accuracy far more than velocity. With the right trajectory and arc, the ball is easier to catch and isn’t dying as it arrives. As a teaching tool, Turner will place a 10-foot net 14 yards downfield that quarterbacks must throw over on deep out passes.

“This is a throw that people talk about arm strength,” said Turner as he moved on to the next play, a deep out. “You have to be able to throw the ball firm and on a line, but it has to have an arc or this linebacker underneath is going to hit it. Teddy’s ball here carries 36 yards on a line with an arc. If you can make that throw right there, you can make any throw we need in this offense.”

One of the reasons Bridgewater fell in the draft was that famously poor Pro Day performance at Louisville. Weeks later, during a private workout with the Vikings in Florida, Turner’s main emphasis was getting Bridgewater to drop and set his feet quicker. Once he did that, he said he saw the target faster and was able to use his legs more, which increased his velocity and accuracy.

“Best workout I had before the draft,” Bridgewater said. “And when Coach Turner left, he told me he couldn’t have cared less about my Pro Day. He said if he had run my Pro Day, I’d have gone 65-for-65.”

Photo via WikiCommons

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